A PRISONER died of lung cancer in Winchester, an inquest heard today (Nov 28).

A jury, which decides all cases of death in prisons, returned a verdict of death by natural causes after William Heywood, 70, succumbed to lung cancer and heart disease on April 12.

Mr Heywood, of Sandown, Isle of Wight, was serving a life sentence after being convicted at Winchester Crown Court in June 2010 of murdering Richard Ball, 57.

The inquest was held in Winchester and presided over by Deputy Coroner for Central Hampshire Simon Burge.