A Coronial Inquest into Rochford’s suicide was told yesterday how staff had been warned of the report.

Prison officer Kevin Dent said he received a call from Senior Officer Peter McManus who had been informed of the report by the Superintendent.

Mr Dent said he was told to do regular checks on Rochford after the prisoner had seen the news report.

However, he said he was not asked to do any more than the regular four checks per shift.

Mr Dent said Rochford was reading at 9.45pm. He asked Rochford if he was alright.

“He said ‘yes, I’m okay thank you’,” Mr Dent said.

Rochford was last checked at 5.35am.

“His head moved slightly. I was not concerned,” Mr Dent said. “I didn’t speak to him.”

Rochford was found dead in his cell at 7.30am, having apparently cut his wrists and neck with a borrowed gardening tool.

Earlier yesterday, the inquest heard of the convicted killer’s human side.

Witness Monica Main described Rochford as “a gifted pianist and a very fine writer” who was deeply committed to his work.

Ms Main ran Albany Regional Prison’s Silenced Authors Lavish Tales (SALT) writers group from 2002 to 2006.

She had developed a close friendship with Rochford through his involvement with SALT.

“He (Rochford) felt a great sense of achievement through his writing – he found it very rewarding,” Ms Main said.

“He was easygoing, had a good sense of humour, was considerate and thoughtful. I thought he was a very decent person,” she said.

Ms Main’s description of Rochford was supported by another witness.

Prison officer Aaron Pippin said Rochford was a “well-mannered man who didn’t cause any problems”.

Rochford had studied horticulture while in Albany Prison and was taking an arts and science degree at the time of his death.

He also told Ms Main he planned to return to England once his sentence was over.

Ms Main recalled hearing of Rochford’s alleged link to the Pamela Lawrence murder.

“I was shocked by what I heard. I though it was a bizarre statement, it just didn’t correlate with the person I knew,” she said.

Ms Main said Rochford was the least likely person to commit suicide.

“I think Simon was aware he was probably being stitched up. I think he would have despaired he wasn’t being treated fairly.”

On Tuesday, prisoner Michael King admitted to the inquest he had lied to police investigating Rochford’s links to the Lawrence murder.

King had previously told officers Rochford had confessed to him that he killed Pamela Lawrence.

Ms Main recalled a situation at the prison where King had been present.

“I said he (King) gives me the creeps,” Ms Main said.

“Rochford replied with words to the effect ‘he is a creep’. He was certainly not the sort of person Simon would have confided in.”