A JUDGE has formally closed a court case file after a Barrow man charged with murder died in prison.

William Prince, 64, of Abbey Road in Barrow, died at HMP Preston on May 18, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman confirmed.

Mr Prince had been remanded into custody since his arrest for the alleged murder of 90-year-old Geoffrey Kershaw following an incident on Abbey Road on March 17 earlier this year. Mr Kershaw died in hospital five days later, police said.

A provisional trial date had been set for September 2 later this year.

However, Mr Prince never formally entered any pleas to the charge.

The exact cause of Mr Prince's death has not yet been determined but HM Prison Service has confirmed an independent investigation is currently underway.

Francis McEntee, prosecuting the case at Preston Crown Court on June 21, said the Crown Prosecution Service now had an interim death certificate.

Mr McEntee added: “This is a case from the very outset where there were concerns about the defendant’s mental health.

“It appears this may have manifested in the worse way possible.”

The case was officially withdrawn by His Honour Judge Robert Altham, the Honorary Recorder of Preston, at Preston Crown Court on June 21.