A judge has called for an inquiry into how a murder suspect died just days after the start of his trial at Oxford Crown Court.

Russell Yeates, 49, was found dead at Bullingdon Prison, near Bicester, early on Friday.

The father-of-two was on trial for the murder of his wife Debbie Smith, 47, at their home in Bell Lane, Wheatley, in May last year.

Yesterday at Oxford Crown Court Judge Anthony King, who was presiding at the trial, ordered the case to be closed and for an inquest into the death to take place.

Judge King said: “These are very sad events, which may well be subject to a careful inquiry.”

Det Insp Tony Collingwood, of the Oxford major crime unit, told the court he had identified Yeates’ body at the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Headington.

After the court hearing, he said: “The judge has ordered the proceedings to now be moved to the Oxford Coroner’s Court.

“We’re not looking for anybody else in connection with the death of Deborah Smith. The judge has closed the case.”

The Prison Service and Thames Valley Police have launched an inquiry into the death last week.

Yeates was the seventh inmateat Bullingdon Prison to commit suicide since 2003.

An inquest into his death is expected to be opened shortly.