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Witness found hanged before trial Fearful witness was found hanged
(about 2 hours later)
A witness who had been due to testify against a criminal was found hanging in hospital where he had been taken after slashing his wrists, an inquest heard. An inquest has heard how a man due to testify against a prominent criminal figure, after quitting a police witness protection programme.
Gary Haywood, 39, had been due to give evidence against John Gizzi, of St Asaph, Denbighshire, who was later jailed for fraud and violence. Gary Haywood, 39, was to have been a witness against John Gizzi, of St Asaph, who was later jailed.
But the Luton inquest heard that Mr Haywood, of Manchester, had told police he did not want to testify. Mr Haywood's widow told the hearing that they feared their two sons were to be kidnapped or harmed by Gizzi.
Mr Haywood died in Luton in 2003. The inquest continues. Her husband, from Manchester, was found hanged himself in a hospital corridor in Luton in September 2003.
When Gizzi was jailed for five-and-a-half years in January, police said that he had claimed to "run" the seaside town of Rhyl, and preyed on vulnerable people for fun. He was due to give evidence in a trial of builder John Gizzi, jailed for five-and-a-half years in January. Police said Gizzi had claimed to "run" the seaside town of Rhyl, and preyed on vulnerable people for fun.
That trial was unrelated to the earlier one which had been due involve Mr Haywood. I was frightened to death - all the time I thought we were going to be tortured just for telling the truth, by Gizzi, by the police Wife Julie Haywood
Gizzi was sentenced for two counts of grievous bodily harm, one of actual bodily harm and one charge of supplying counterfeit cigarettes. Julie Haywood told the inquest on Tuesday that both she and her husband feared for the safety of their two young sons while under police protection.
Mr Haywood had been due to testify against Gizzi in 2003, but had been driven over by a car in Vale Road, Rhyl, in August 2002. "We had serious thoughts about taking our lives and the children's," she said.
He was placed on a witness protection scheme by North Wales Police, the inquest heard. "I was frightened to death - all the time I thought we were going to be tortured just for telling the truth, by Gizzi, by the police."
But two days before the trial at Chester Crown Court Mr Haywood told officers he no longer wanted to testify. Mrs Haywood, who was later sectioned under the Mental Health Act, said the couple believed they were being followed, had drugs planted on them, were slowly being gassed by air conditioning and being secretly filmed.
The inquest, also heard claims from his parents Vivien and Fred Haywood from Dyserth, Denbighshire, that he was located by criminals and threatened while under police protection.
Retraction statement
The inquest heard how Mr Haywood, had been driven over by a car in Rhyl, in August 2002 and was placed on a witness protection scheme by North Wales Police.
But in September 2003, two days before he was due to be a key witness in the trial at Chester, Mr Haywood told officers things "were too much for him" and he no longer wanted to testify.
The day after he signed a retraction statement, he was found in a garden in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, with slashed wrists.The day after he signed a retraction statement, he was found in a garden in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, with slashed wrists.
He was taken by ambulance to the Luton and Dunstable hospital for treatment, but after seeing a casualty nurse he disappeared. Paramedic David Dixon told the hearing the cuts on Mr Haywood's wrists were quite deep.
Dr Richard James told the inquest he had seen a man hanging from the roof in the plant room at the back of ward 10 in the hospital. He said: "He told me he was in a witness protection scheme. He admitted causing the injuries with barbed wire. He was a bit agitated. He was distracted as if something was on his mind."
Mr Haywood was taken to the Luton and Dunstable Hospital for treatment, but after seeing a casualty nurse he disappeared. He was later found hanged by earthing wire in a hospital maintenance corridor.
Pathologist Dr Nat Carey gave the cause of death as hanging. He said there was no evidence of any other person being involved.Pathologist Dr Nat Carey gave the cause of death as hanging. He said there was no evidence of any other person being involved.
Mr Haywood's parents Vivien, 64, and Fred, 65, from Dyserth, Denbighshire, claim that while under police protection he was repeatedly found and threatened. The inquest continues on Wednesday.