A 21-year-old man appeared in court today charged with murdering his prison cellmate.

Gareth Russell, 25, was found hanging at HMP Lewes on April 24, just days after he was sentenced to six years for manslaughter.

Simon Wishart was charged with his murder and was remanded in custody when he appeared at Brighton Magistrates' Court.

He will appear at a plea and directions hearing at Lewes Crown Court on May 16.

Prison staff attempted resuscitation and Russell was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, but he was pronounced dead just after 1am.

Russell, an alcoholic, had been living rough in Brighton, and was found guilty of the manslaughter of Terry Hannaby, 34, last month, following a seven-week trial at Hove Crown Court.

Mr Hannaby's body was found under a blood-soaked duvet by security staff as they let early morning cleaners into Brighton Town Hall last September 4.

Russell, who was not on suicide watch, was the second inmate to die at Lewes Prison last month.

On April 10, Dafydd Field, 52, who was charged with the murder of his six-year-old son Jethro, was found dead in his cell after apparently electrocuting himself.