WITNESSES preparing to give evidence in a murder trial say the suspect chose the coward's way out by taking his own life.

The case of Leslie Stubbs, aged 52, of Picton Street, Leek, was due to be heard in November.

Charged with killing mother-of-three Deborah Wilkes, pictured below, at her home in Shirley Street, Leek, he was seen by many of her neighbours in the 24 hours before the murder was discovered on August 23 last year.

He was charged three days later and has been held in custody since then.

But on Sunday morning he was found with his throat cut in his cell at Winson Green prison in Birmingham, and he died in hospital on Monday.

Amy Turner, aged 27, of in Shirley Street, said: "This is an end to everything, but it's the coward's way out. It's not nice thinking of someone killing themselves, but I'm glad I won't have to give evidence now.

"I feel bad saying that, but I wasn't looking forward to coming face-to-face with him again in court."

She and her husband Edward had seen Stubbs outside their house.

Edward, aged 31, added: "I suppose his death may make things a little easier for Mrs Wilkes's family, because they won't have to sit through a trial or worry about him every getting out of prison.

"But it might have been better if he had said why he did it before he took his life."

Tony Millward, aged 51, also of Shirley Street, said: "I first bumped into Stubbs in the back alley when I was taking the dogs for a walk.

"He was obviously drunk and I was a bit suspicious because I'd never seen him before.

"The next day he was sitting on my front wall and I went to tell him to move but he had disappeared by the time I got to the front door.

"I don't know what to think about him killing himself.

" I feel sorry for Mrs Wilkes's daughters and I don't know whether they will feel like this is justice for their mum or not."

A post-mortem examination revealed Mrs Wilkes, aged 49, had died from strangulation.

She had previously worked as a nurse and sister at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire, before her health deteriorated as she suffered with Huntington's disease.

She was estranged to her husband Eddie and had twin daughters, Jessica and Harriet, and younger daughter Rosie. She also had two grandchildren.

Her body was discovered by a daughter's boyfriend.

A spokesman for CPS Staffordshire said the case will be formally closed when Stubbs's death certificate is presented to Stafford Crown Court on September 16.