Murderer found dead in cell

A murderer has been found dead in his cell after apparently committing suicide while serving a life sentence for killing a friend.

David McDonald, aged 40-years-old, from Northamptonshire was found by prison officers in his cell at Woodhill Prison in Milton Keynes.

He appeared to have cuts to both arms and his neck.

A spokesman said: "It appears those injuries were self inflicted. We are not able to say at this time if any knife or sharp object was found in his cell."

McDonald was pronounced dead by the prison's doctor at 1.41pm on Monday.

An internal investigation has been launched into the death.

McDonald, who is understood to have been a talented artist, was jailed for life in 1988 for the murder of his friend and fellow cannabis smoker John Sergent.

A Northampton Crown Court jury returned a unanimous verdict after hearing how the killer used four different weapons to bludgeon and stab his 29-year-old victim to death after the two men had been smoking cannabis together.

The murder took place in the home of McDonald's girlfriend, Lucinda Munkelt, in Briar Road, Kettering, where he had been staying.

While awaiting trial, McDonald wrote to Mr Sergent's parents, claiming he had carried out the murder after he became jealous when his victim bragged about having sex with Miss Munkelt.