A convicted murderer was found hanged in his cell at HMP Bullingdon, Oxford Coroner’s Court heard.

Stephen Griffiths, 58, was given a life sentence in 2004 for stabbing ex-partner Rana Faruqui through the heart as she saw to her horse at Jennings Farm, near Hedgerley and Burnham, on August 2, 2003.

At a pre-inquest review on Wednesday afternoon, senior coroner for Oxfordshire Darren Salter said Mr Griffiths had been released from prison on parole on December 4, 2020.

He was then recalled to custody on March 19 the following year, although the reasons for the recall were not given during the hour-long hearing.

Mr Griffiths was found hanged in his cell at HMP Bullingdon, near Bicester, at 5am on April 20.

Bucks Free Press: A police mugshot of Stephen Griffiths, issued in 2004 Picture: TVP/NQA police mugshot of Stephen Griffiths, issued in 2004 Picture: TVP/NQ

Lawyers for Mr Griffiths’ partner, the prison authorities and private healthcare provider Practice Plus Group attended the pre-inquest review hearing, together with Mr Griffiths’ brother. The lawyers and the family all appeared in Oxford Coroner’s Court virtually, via Microsoft Teams.

The coroner made a number of rulings about the scope of the inquest and the witnesses expected to give evidence in person.

No date was set for the inquest, which is expected to take place in front of a jury at the end of this year or in early 2023.

In 2004, Mr Justice Silber gave Griffiths a life sentence. The judge initially said Mr Griffiths would serve at least 12 years behind bars but ordered the defendant back into court several days later and upped the minimum tariff to 15 years.

Sentencing the killer, the judge said: "You viciously and sadistically attacked Rana Faruqui and were heavily armed.

"You purchased a collection of weapons and it seems clear you had no other aim but to harm [her]."

On August 2, 2003, emergency services were scrambled to stables at Jennings Farm after Ms Faruqui, who worked at the then-High Wycombe based Hyundai Car UK Ltd, called 999 on her mobile phone when she spotted Griffiths approaching her across the paddock.

He was carrying three knives and a truncheon while in his car he had a chisel, a mallet, two bow saws, duct tape, an industrial bag, rope and a crowbar.

Bucks Free Press: Image of Rana Faruqui issued by Thames Valley Police Picture: TVP/FAMILY Image of Rana Faruqui issued by Thames Valley Police Picture: TVP/FAMILY 

Ms Faruqui, from Farnham Common, was overheard by the 999 operator telling her former partner to ‘leave me alone’ before the struggle that resulted in her death.

In a statement from the victim’s mother, Carol Faruqui, reported by the Bucks Free Press in 2004: "Today Griffiths begins the first day of his sentence. For Rana's family and friends today is the first day of our life sentence. In our opinion the sentence is far too lenient. In our opinion he should never be freed."