A man on trial for the murder of his wife killed himself in prison.

Nicholas Bailey, 59, took a "massive" overdose of pills the night before his cross-examination in court was due to begin.

He was charged with killing his estranged wife, Susan, 57, after she was found strangled in her flat in Channel View, Eastbourne, on August 17, 2003.

Yesterday an inquest at Lewes Magistrates Court heard Bailey, a builder, died at Lewes prison after taking antidepressants and pills for high blood pressure, which he had hoarded and hidden in his cell.

His cell-mate, Dennis Davies, now at Ford Open Prison, told the inquest Bailey had been tearful when he returned from his trial on May 18, 2004.

He said: "When his barrister was interviewing him he put photos of his wife in front of him and this was upsetting. He said: If I have been responsible for that then I deserve everything that will come to me'."

Next morning Mr Davies found Bailey, also known as Terry, of Gilbert Road, Eastbourne, dead in his bed. Prison officers and Mr Davies said there had been no indication he was thinking of killing himself.

The prison had two self-harm files on Bailey as was considered a risk when he entered Lewes. He had tried to commit suicide twice with the help of his son Brian.

Brian Bailey, 35, drove over his father's head on August 20, 2003, days after Terry had allegedly confessed to him to killing Susan. He was given a two-year suspended jail term in June last year for the offences.

By May 2004 Bailey seemed settled and denied he wanted to harm himself. His prescription pills were dispensed weekly and he was not watched while he took them.

Francis Jordan, senior nurse at Lewes, said it would be not be possible to watch all prisoners take their medication without a huge increase in staffing levels.

Since Bailey's death it had become practice to do a risk assessment on prisoners with every prescription issued.

East Sussex coroner Alan Craze recorded a verdict of suicide.