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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Murder charge father dies in jail | Murder charge father dies in jail |
| (about 12 hours later) | |
| A man who was due to go on trial charged with the murder of his daughter has died in prison. | A man who was due to go on trial charged with the murder of his daughter has died in prison. |
| Tony Couchman, 47, of St Leonards, East Sussex, was accused of murdering Victoria Couchman, 19, between 15 May and 18 May 2008. | Tony Couchman, 47, of St Leonards, East Sussex, was accused of murdering Victoria Couchman, 19, between 15 May and 18 May 2008. |
| He was found unconscious in his cell in HMP Lewes, East Sussex, on Saturday and died later, the Prison Service said. | He was found unconscious in his cell in HMP Lewes, East Sussex, on Saturday and died later, the Prison Service said. |
| Police think he may have sent messages from his daughter's Bebo site after her death to try to cover his tracks. | Police think he may have sent messages from his daughter's Bebo site after her death to try to cover his tracks. |
| He had been due to stand trial at Lewes Crown Court. | He had been due to stand trial at Lewes Crown Court. |
| Sussex Police said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with Miss Couchman's murder. | Sussex Police said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with Miss Couchman's murder. |
| A spokesman for the Prison Service said: "HMP Lewes prisoner Tony Couchman was found unconscious in his cell at 11.30am on Saturday January 2. | A spokesman for the Prison Service said: "HMP Lewes prisoner Tony Couchman was found unconscious in his cell at 11.30am on Saturday January 2. |
| "Paramedics attended the prison, but Mr Couchman was pronounced dead shortly after that time. The cause of death is yet to be determined. | "Paramedics attended the prison, but Mr Couchman was pronounced dead shortly after that time. The cause of death is yet to be determined. |
| "As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will conduct an investigation." | "As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will conduct an investigation." |
| The family stands by Tony and do not believe that he did this to Vicky. Rest in peace, Tony Couchman family statement | The family stands by Tony and do not believe that he did this to Vicky. Rest in peace, Tony Couchman family statement |
| Miss Couchman's skull was found by children in Redgeland Wood, in the Queensway area of St Leonards, near Hastings, in October last year. | Miss Couchman's skull was found by children in Redgeland Wood, in the Queensway area of St Leonards, near Hastings, in October last year. |
| Further human remains were later discovered around the scene. | Further human remains were later discovered around the scene. |
| Medical records were used to identify them as those of Miss Couchman, a single mother-of-one. | Medical records were used to identify them as those of Miss Couchman, a single mother-of-one. |
| Following the discovery Mr Couchman was arrested and charged with her murder. | Following the discovery Mr Couchman was arrested and charged with her murder. |
| He was also charged with perverting the course of justice between 18 October 2008 and 17 April 2009 in connection with the investigation. | He was also charged with perverting the course of justice between 18 October 2008 and 17 April 2009 in connection with the investigation. |
| Mr Couchman had denied both charges. | Mr Couchman had denied both charges. |
| His family issued a statement through Sussex Police, which said he was a "loving father and grandfather who would be hugely missed". | His family issued a statement through Sussex Police, which said he was a "loving father and grandfather who would be hugely missed". |
| They said he was now with Miss Couchman and her brother Dean, who died in a car crash in 2005 when he was 17. | They said he was now with Miss Couchman and her brother Dean, who died in a car crash in 2005 when he was 17. |
| Medical records were used to identify Victoria Couchman's remains | Medical records were used to identify Victoria Couchman's remains |
| The statement said: "The family stands by Tony and do not believe that he did this to Vicky. Rest in peace, Tony, now that you are with Dean and Vicky. From your family, we all love you." | The statement said: "The family stands by Tony and do not believe that he did this to Vicky. Rest in peace, Tony, now that you are with Dean and Vicky. From your family, we all love you." |
| Police looked at Miss Couchman's profile on the social networking site Bebo after it emerged that messages were sent from her page at a time when detectives believed she was already dead. | Police looked at Miss Couchman's profile on the social networking site Bebo after it emerged that messages were sent from her page at a time when detectives believed she was already dead. |
| The force also said she had not been reported to them as a missing person. | The force also said she had not been reported to them as a missing person. |
| Miss Couchman had described herself on her Bebo site as a lover of comedy and romance films and urged others to "live life like it's your last day". | Miss Couchman had described herself on her Bebo site as a lover of comedy and romance films and urged others to "live life like it's your last day". |
| Det Ch Insp Adam Hibbert said: "This is obviously a very tragic conclusion to what was already a desperately sad case. | Det Ch Insp Adam Hibbert said: "This is obviously a very tragic conclusion to what was already a desperately sad case. |
| "Our thoughts and condolences are with the Couchman family at this time following the loss first of Vicky - a mother, daughter and sister - and now Tony Couchman, a father and grandfather. | "Our thoughts and condolences are with the Couchman family at this time following the loss first of Vicky - a mother, daughter and sister - and now Tony Couchman, a father and grandfather. |
| "As far as Sussex Police are concerned, unless any other viable lines of inquiry emerge, we are not looking for anyone else in connection with this case and will not be pursuing it further." | "As far as Sussex Police are concerned, unless any other viable lines of inquiry emerge, we are not looking for anyone else in connection with this case and will not be pursuing it further." |
| A spokesman for Sussex Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Mr Couchman's death, which has been referred to the coroner. | A spokesman for Sussex Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Mr Couchman's death, which has been referred to the coroner. |
| Det Ch Insp Adam Hibbert, of Sussex Police, said Tony Couchman's family was devastated |