An inquest jury today heard a man accused of murdering his wife was found dead before he could stand trial.

Wendy England, 36, and her husband Simon, 39, lived in a flat in Shore Road, East Wittering.

Mrs England was found strangled in the flat on August 18, 1999.

Her husband, who worked as a boat builder, was charged with her murder, the Chichester inquest was told.

But he was found dead at Graylingwell Psychiatric Hospital in Chichester on April 16 while he was on remand to stand trial at Lewes Crown Court.

Today's hearing was told Mrs England confided to her sister on the day she died that she wanted to leave her husband.

Anne Howes told the jury: "She said she wanted to leave him. She had had enough."

Mrs Howes said that a few weeks earlier, Mr England had told her that he was worried his wife might leave him.

She added: "He said he was frightened Wendy was going to leave him.

"He wanted to make up for the last few years when he had been horrible to her."

Mrs Howes said her sister had been a welfare assistant at East Wittering Primary School for eight years before going to work as a secretary at a local firm.

Mr England's stepfather, David England, of Stocks Lane, East Wittering, told the jury his son was being treated for depression before the tragedy.

He said he visited his son at Graylingwell when he was on remand and said he was very low.

He added: "He was usually quite low and he was fearful of the future. Now and again he would be quite cheerful and then down the next time we saw him."

The hearing continues.