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| Birmingham double murder accused found dead in prison cell | Birmingham double murder accused found dead in prison cell |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A Lithuanian man accused of murdering a police officer's parents in Birmingham has been found dead in his prison cell. | |
| Rimvydas Liorancas, 37, was charged with the murders of Avtar and Carole Kolar at their home in Handsworth Wood, Birmingham, this month. | Rimvydas Liorancas, 37, was charged with the murders of Avtar and Carole Kolar at their home in Handsworth Wood, Birmingham, this month. |
| West Midlands police said he was found dead in his cell at Woodhill prison, in Milton Keynes, on Saturday. | West Midlands police said he was found dead in his cell at Woodhill prison, in Milton Keynes, on Saturday. |
| A Prison Service spokesman said: "HMP Woodhill prisoner Rimvydas Liorancas was found hanging in his cell at 8.52am on Saturday. Staff attempted resuscitation and paramedics attended but he was pronounced dead at 9.30am. | A Prison Service spokesman said: "HMP Woodhill prisoner Rimvydas Liorancas was found hanging in his cell at 8.52am on Saturday. Staff attempted resuscitation and paramedics attended but he was pronounced dead at 9.30am. |
| "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 Kolars' bodies were found at their home on 11 January by their son, an officer with West Midlands police. | The Kolars' bodies were found at their home on 11 January by their son, an officer with West Midlands police. |
| Liorancas entered no plea in his first appearance at Birmingham crown court eight days later. An interpreter translated proceedings for the defendant and a trial date was set for August. | Liorancas entered no plea in his first appearance at Birmingham crown court eight days later. An interpreter translated proceedings for the defendant and a trial date was set for August. |
| Detectives do not believe the killings were linked to the son's occupation or to the theft of gold, as had been speculated. Two other people arrested in the case were released without charge. | Detectives do not believe the killings were linked to the son's occupation or to the theft of gold, as had been speculated. Two other people arrested in the case were released without charge. |
| Police said the investigation into the murders would continue. "The family of Carole and Avtar were informed at the earliest possible stage of the news [of Liorancas's death] and we are continuing to support them," the force said. | Police said the investigation into the murders would continue. "The family of Carole and Avtar were informed at the earliest possible stage of the news [of Liorancas's death] and we are continuing to support them," the force said. |
| The ministry of justice and the Prison Service will open an investigation into what happened in the cell and whether Liorancas was properly supervised. |