Newport gunman Darren Williams 'found hanging in woods'

Darren Williams shot his estranged wife and injured two other women at a hairdressers in Newport

An inquest has heard how a 45-year-old gunman was found hanging in woodland hours after shooting his estranged wife in a Newport hair salon.

Darren Williams' body was found at Brynglas woods hours after he injured Rachel Williams, 37, at Carol-Ann's hair salon in Malpas Road on Friday.

A post-mortem examination concluded he died from pressure to the neck.

Gwent Coroner David Bowen adjourned the inquest for three months while a police investigation is carried out.

The case has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which is to decide whether to investigate the events leading up to Mr Williams' death.

Ms Williams was being treated at Swansea's Morriston Hospital after being shot in the leg with a double-barrelled shotgun.

Connie Evans, 92, who suffered 13 pellet wounds from rebounding gunshots, was treated in the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport. Another customer was also injured.

Medical attention

The incident sparked a major search involving armed police and a helicopter.

It has emerged Mr Williams was jailed for four months in 2004 after police discovered what was described as an arsenal of weapons at his home in Newport.

His family said he had suffered in the weeks up to the incident because of the "traumatic break-up of his marriage".

They said he needed professional medical attention.