Prison drug death after attempt to murder wife

A GREATER insight has been given into the life and state of mind of a 40-year-old Plymouth man who took a fatal overdose of prescribed medication in prison the day after being convicted for the brutal attempted murder of his wife.

- ANITA MERRITT

Lee Hellyer tried to kill his estranged wife and the mother of his three children by twice jabbing her with a cake knife at their former marital home in Plymouth on March 15, 2019, an inquest heard.

He then tried to strangle the 32-year-old with his bare hands and a key chain until she was able to escape him and flee the home. A neighbour reported to police having never heard screaming like it before.

Mr Hellyer rang 999 admitting to having stabbed his wife and trying to kill her, and then wanting his life to be over. He also rang his parents telling them he was heading to Tamar Bridge but was apprehended by police before attempting to end his life. He was detained at HMP Exeter and denied attempted murder. After a four-day trial at Plymouth Crown Court, he was found unanimously guilty on July 25, 2019. The case was adjourned for sentencing on a later day, but the following morning he was found in medical difficulty on the floor of his cell and died a short while after.

A jury inquest into his death - now four years ago - began on Monday at Exeter Coroner’s Court, and is expected to last for up to three weeks.