Murderer Simon Hall killed himself in jail, inquest finds
A killer found hanged in his prison cell a year after finally admitting to murdering an elderly woman, took his own life, an inquest concluded.
Simon Hall, 36, was found at Wayland Prison, Norfolk, in 2014.
For 10 years he had denied killing Joan Albert but confessed in 2013.
Mrs Albert was found dead at her home in Capel St Mary, near Ipswich in December 2001. Hall, then 25, was found guilty of her murder in February 2003 and was jailed for life.
He had claimed to be innocent during his trial and for years afterwards, before finally admitting he had murdered Mrs Albert.
His 79-year-old victim was found stabbed to death in the hallway of her home and had suffered at least five wounds inflicted with a carving knife from her kitchen.
Hall was arrested, charged and subsequently found guilty of her murder after a trial. He appealed against his conviction twice, but both times the High Court upheld the sentence.
In 2013 he finally confessed to prison authorities. His body was found in his cell a year later.
After a week-long inquest at Norwich Coroner's Court, the jury concluded Hall had killed himself.
Jacqueline Lake, Norfolk coroner, said: "I do not propose to make any report with regards to prevention of similar deaths.
"I'm satisfied that matters have been dealt with."