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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Fearful witness was found hanged | Fearful witness was found hanged |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| An inquest has heard how a man due to testify against a prominent criminal figure, hanged himself after quitting a police witness protection programme. | |
| Gary Haywood, 39, was to have been a witness against John Gizzi, of St Asaph, who was later jailed. | Gary Haywood, 39, was to have been a witness against John Gizzi, of St Asaph, who was later jailed. |
| Mr Haywood's widow told the hearing that they feared their two sons were to be kidnapped or harmed by Gizzi. | Mr Haywood's widow told the hearing that they feared their two sons were to be kidnapped or harmed by Gizzi. |
| Her husband was found hanged in a hospital corridor in Luton in September 2003. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 | 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 |
| 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. | 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. |
| "We had serious thoughts about taking our lives and the children's," she said. | "We had serious thoughts about taking our lives and the children's," she said. |
| "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." | "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." |
| 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. | 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. | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Paramedic David Dixon told the hearing the cuts on Mr Haywood's wrists were quite deep. | Paramedic David Dixon told the hearing the cuts on Mr Haywood's wrists were quite deep. |
| 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." | 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. | 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. |
| The inquest continues on Wednesday. | The inquest continues on Wednesday. |