A man who had been accused of killing father-of-two Jay Abatan outside a night club hanged himself while suffering from depression, an inquest heard.

Graham Curtis, 42, and another man had been charged with the manslaughter of Mr Abatan but the allegations were dropped due to insufficient evidence.

Both men were also cleared of assaulting Mr Abatan's brother Michael.

Mr Abatan, 42, of The Meads, Eastbourne, died after being punched in a taxi queue outside the Ocean Rooms in Morley Street, Brighton, in 1999 during a row over a cab.

The killer has not been brought to justice.

During yesterday's Brighton inquest no mention was made of Mr Abatan's death.

The hearing heard how Mr Curtis, a computer worker in London, had a history of depression and had difficulties coping with the recent end of a relationship.

His former girlfriend had taken out an injunction to prevent him contacting her.

Mr Curtis visited his GP five days before he died and said he was having problems after the split and had been having counselling.

The doctor concluded, in a report read out in court, that his patient did not appear suicidal during the consultation and he had prescribed the anti-depressant Prozac and told him to return to the surgery in two weeks.

But on June 7 Mr Curtis was found dead by his two sisters who had travelled from their homes in Southampton after growing increasingly concerned for his welfare when they could not contact him.

They tried repeatedly to call him and at his house in Port Hall Road, Brighton, they shouted through the letterbox before letting themselves in with a key.

They found him hanging by a rope from banisters on the top floor of the three-storey house.

No members of his family gave evidence to the hearing but statements by his sisters were read to the court.

One, from Kathryn Sanders, stated: "Despite many friends he was prone to strong feelings of loneliness and bouts of depression.

"We had been concerned about his mental well-being for some months. He sometimes put on a brave face to protect his friends.

"My sister and I loved him very much and will miss him."

Mr Curtis had told his sister he had considered killing himself and had sat in a tree with a noose around his neck but could not go through with it.

Brighton and Hove coroner Veronica Hamilton-Deeley recorded a verdict of suicide.

She said: "Even though there was no suicide note, I am sure he intended to take his own life."

After the hearing, Detective Chief Inspector John Levett expressed his sympathy on behalf of Sussex Police to Mr Curtis' family and friends.

He said the suicide did not affect the continuing inquiry into Mr Abatan's death.

"The active phase of the inquiry is closed. We remain open to any new information that comes into the inquiry," he said.

The first police investigation into Mr Abatan's death was heavily criticised after an inquiry by Essex Police. The review listed 57 conclusions, mostly critical, and 18 recommendations.

It said no thought was given in the original investigation as to whether Mr Abatan's death was racially motivated. A Police Complaints Authority inquiry is continuing to investigate whether officers should be disciplined.

The family and Sussex Police are offering a £175,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Mr Abatan's death.

His family have launched a Justice for Jay campaign to highlight the case and press for further police investigation.