Accused Southsea burglar, 37, dies on remand in prison

Saul Turner, 37, was due to appear at Portsmouth Crown Court accused of burgling Southsea homes in Exmouth Road, Cottage Grove and Victoria Grove between January 3 and 4.

But just before his court appearance on February 10 it emerged he had been found dead at HMP Highdown in Surrey.

Today the proceedings against him were due to be formally ended but the court has not been provided with Turner's death certificate.

Daniel Reilly, for Turner, said the prison service said its response to the request for the certificate ‘was still within the period of time they have as a target to reply to communications’. The case will be in court on March 9.

A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said its ‘condolences are with his family and friends’.

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate Turner’s death.

Turner, of no fixed address, was accused of taking cigarettes, a purse, bank card, driving licence and £2.50, cuff links a tin containing US dollars, a Superdry jacket and sports pouch, an Adidas bag and £10 cash.