A man found hanged after four years as a suspect in a death probe was depressed because of a split with his girlfriend.

An inquest was opened at Brighton yesterday into the death of Graham Curtis, 41, who was found at his home in Port Hall Road, Brighton, on June 7.

Jane Ritchie, coroner's officer, said Mr Curtis's sister discovered the body hanging by a rope from a banister.

She said Mr Curtis had been taking antidepressants because of a relationship breakdown.

Brighton and Hove coroner Veronica Hamilton Deeley adjourned the inquest to September 9.

The Argus earlier this week reported how friends and legal representatives believed part of Mr Curtis's depression was brought about by the continuing murder inquiry. He once asked a lawyer: "When will this stop?"

Mr Curtis was accused but never convicted of killing Eastbourne father-of-two Jay Abatan, who was punched in a row over a taxi and hit his head on the ground outside the Ocean Rooms night club in Morley Street, Brighton, in 1999.

Mr Curtis was arrested and charged with Jay's manslaughter but the case collapsed before reaching court.

Detectives, who were later criticised for a series of failures in the investigation, continued to keep him under surveillance.

Mr Curtis's home was raided and "turned upside down" by officers who seized computer equipment and checked his mobile phone calls.