British chef arrested for killing of Dublin man in Spain found dead in prison cell Gentle giant John Pender was killed in front of his wife and friends in
Suspected killer Leigh Gardiner from the UK appears at court in Fuengirola on the Costa Del Sol, accused of the murder of Irish man John Pender from Dublin (Image: Solarpix.com)
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A BRITISH chef found dead in his prison cell had been warned he was about to be charged with the murder of an Irish holidaymaker.
A forensic psychologist had also determined Leigh Anthony Gardiner was fit to stand trial and could not plead an insanity defence.
The 51-year-old was put on suicide watch after his June 2019 arrest for the savage Costa del Sol killing of gentle giant Irish holidaymaker John Pender in front of his wife and friends.
Investigators heading two separate probes are expected to rule he killed himself at Alhaurin de la Torre prison near Malaga a fortnight ago after the twin setbacks.
A British man who was facing trial in Spain for the murder of Shankill man John Pender has died in jail.
Chef Leigh Anthony Gardiner (51) was found dead in his cell last Wednesday morning, December 30. Gardiner was arrested in June 2019 for the murder of John Pender at an Irish pub in Fuengirola.
He was being held at Alhaurin de la Torre prison near Malaga ahead of his trial.
Investigations into the death are currently under way in Spain. It is understood that the death is being treated as suicide.
Prison workers association, TAMPM, released a statement, identifying the dead man only by his initials. We regret to have to confirm the death of an inmate in Module Five of Alhaurin de la Torre Prison, read the statement.