Murder Suspect Found Dead

31 January 2012, 11:46 | Updated: 31 January 2012, 11:51

A man accused of murdering a police officer's parents has been found dead in his cell at Milton Keynes' Woodhill Prison.

Lithanian national Rimvydas Liorancas, 37, had been charged with murdering Avtar and Carole Kolar (pictured) who were found dead at their home in Handsworth Wood, Birmingham, on Wednesday 11 January 2012.

West Midlands Police confirmed the Lithuanian national was found dead in his cell at Woodhill Prison in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, on Saturday 28 January.

A Prison Service spokesman said: "HMP Woodhill prisoner Rimvydas Liorancas was found hanging in his cell at 8.52am on Saturday January 28.

"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."

Mr Kolar, 62, and his 58-year-old wife had been married for 40 years and had four children.  The couple were found to have suffered blunt force trauma to the head.

Their bodies were discovered by their policeman son, Jason, although detectives later said their deaths were not connected to his occupation.

At an emotional press conference the day after the couple were found dead, their daughter, Michelle Kirwan, 39, and her brother, Avtar Kolar, 32, held hands and sobbed as they said their hearts had been "broken forever".

Their parents were believed to have been killed in a bungled burglary and a number of items that had been stolen from the property were later recovered.

Liorancas was arrested at an address in Birmingham on January 16 following a manhunt.

He appeared at Birmingham Crown Court on 23 January, where he listened to proceedings via an interpreter and spoke only to confirm his name.  He was due to appear before the court again for a plea hearing on 25 May and a trial date was fixed for 28 August 2012.

It is understood Liorancas was not considered at risk of suicide or self-harm.