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Double murder accused found dead in prison

 

Pa
Tuesday 31 January 2012 11:40 GMT

The Lithuanian man accused of the murders of a police officer's parents has been found dead in his prison cell.

Rimvydas Liorancas, 37, was charged over the murders of Avtar and Carole Kolar at their home in Handsworth Wood, Birmingham, earlier this month.

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

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 dead at their home on January 11, having 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 January 23, 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 May 25 and a trial date was fixed for August 28.

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

Speaking the day after the murder of their parents, Mrs Kirwan and brother Mr Kolar issued a desperate plea for help in finding their killers, saying the light had been "switched out" in their lives.

Mrs Kirwan paid tribute to her parents, adding: "My mum and dad were the sweetest, kindest people that I have ever met and would do anything for anyone.

"They were the beautiful parents of myself, Jason, Taz and Marie, and the precious nanna and grandad of eight grandchildren, who adored them with all their hearts."

Mr and Mrs Kolar had eight grandchildren who they often helped to look after and Mrs Kirwan added the family "could not have been closer."

A team of 60 officers from West Midlands Police had worked around the clock on the case.

PA

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