A grieving widow spoke of her love for her killer husband after he died in their blazing mobile home.

Barry Roy Rutter, 45, was found dead at his home in Thornley Park, Lyminster Road, Lyminster, near Littlehampton, on January 2, an inquest heard. Mr Rutter, originally from Birmingham, had served a 15-year life sentence for murdering his aunt in 1976 when he was 22.

He had been drinking heavily on the day of his death and was three-and-a-half times over the drink-drive limit. His pet German shepherd dog also died in the fire. At Worthing Coroner's Court yesterday, his widow, Mary Rutter, spoke of the day she lost her husband.

She said: "On January 2, I returned home to find half my life completely gone. Not only have I had to rebuild my life but also a home which was lost on the day. Barry had informed me of his past, all of which had taken place many years before I had met him."

Mrs Rutter said: "Despite Barry's past we had started a new life. We weathered the difficulties together with love and laughter. We both had a love of nature and this bonded us in our new life. During October 1998 I met Barry Rutter while caring for animals as part of a community project. The relationship developed and we were married on April 3, 1990."

She told the inquest: "Barry was fed up because he was struggling to find a job and was trying to come to terms with his problems."

On the day of his death Mr Rutter had knocked on the door of neighbour Chris Adams with a glass in his hand, asking if he had any brandy or whisky. Mr Adams told the hearing he gave his neighbour a drink but an hour later heard unusual popping and cracking noises and spotted the fire.

Mr Adams joined other residents at the mobile home park who tried to put the blaze out with fire extinguishers before firefighters arrived.Mr Rutter was found dead on the floor of his home with his feet on the sofa. It is believed he was trying to escape when he was overcome by smoke.

An investigation showed the fire had started in the cooker. It is thought Mr Rutter had fallen asleep and was unable to get out when he woke up. Mr Rutter was a self-employed painter living in Birmingham when he strangled his aunt, Florence Wilkes, after an argument over unpaid fines and gambling debts.

He was released in May 1990 and married Mary Rutter, whom he met while working at Brent Lodge wildlife hospital at Sidlesham, near Chichester, as part of his prison pre-release scheme.

After his release the couple set up home in Bognor with Mary's teenage sons, Andrew and David. Mr Rutter had spent more time in prison since serving the sentence for murder and was finally released from Ford Prison last July.

West Sussex coroner Roger Stone recorded a verdict of accidental death.

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