Wednesday, 20 January 2010

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EastEnders star Samantha Womack attends dad's inquest

Actress supported by husband in court

Samantha Womack and her husband Mark attended the inquest together

EastEnders star Samantha Womack heard how her father killed himself during an inquest into his death yesterday.

Noel Janes, 60, was found hanged at his flat in Brighton, East Sussex, on 22 August.

Samantha, 37, listened as the court was told he had become 'distant' and 'reflective' in the days leading up to his suicide.

‘He was dreadful, absolutely awful,' his mum Dolly Gordon told Brighton County Court.

‘He was very low for three months before but on the week before he died he was in a dreadful state, very detached.

'He was miserable, he was completely detached, you couldn't get near him.'

Coroner Veronica Hamilton-Deeley ruled that, although no suicide note was found, Noel had intended to take his own life.

Samantha, who plays Ronnie Mitchell, attended the inquest with husband Mark Womack.