THE man accused of Gwent's body-in-the-carpet murder was found dead in his prison cell yesterday, officials confirmed last night.

Daryl Terrence Smith, 40, of Bellevue Close, Trevethin, was charged with the murder of 23-year-old Bobbie Stokoe whose body was found wrapped in a carpet on wasteground in Trevethin on August 19.

Smith was on remand in Cardiff Prison and had been due to appear at Newport Crown Court on November 6 for a plea and case management hearing.

A prison service spokesman confirmed last night that Smith was found in his cell at 8.35am. Paramedics were called but he was pronounced dead 15 minutes later.

The cause of his death was not known as the Argus went to Press last night.

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will now carry out an investigation.

Gwent Police confirmed they had been advised by South Wales Police that Smith had been found dead in the prison.

Smith last appeared in court in Newport on August 27 where he spoke only to confirm his name.

He was remanded in custody and was due to appear at court again next month, where he was expected to enter a plea.

Miss Stokoe, formerly of Maindee, Newport, was found by two local men wrapped in a carpet in undergrowth on an area of wasteland, known as the Dumpty, near Beeches Road.

She died of multiple stab wounds, according to an inquest into her death which opened last month.

The inquest was adjourned for six months and Miss Stokoe’s funeral was held in Newport on September 15.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is investigating the actions of Gwent Police prior to the discovery of Ms Stokoe’s body.

It is looking into the way police responded to calls made to the police before her death which had expressed concern for her welfare.