Chris Brown inquest: latest

An inquest into the death of karate instructor Chris Brown, who was killed by gunman Raoul Moat, has head prison officers were warned of his murderous intentions on the day of his release.

Mr Brown was killed in July 2010 after starting a relationship with Moat's ex-girlfriend, Samantha Stobbart.

She was also badly injured with shotgun pellets but survived.

Moat went on the run and the next night shot and blinded PC David Rathband - who was unarmed and sitting in his market police car.

The inquest, which is taking place at Newcastle Crown Court, heard from a witness who was a prisoner in HMP Durham.

The witness, only referred to as N1, said he told a police officer Moat would end up killing someone.

He told the court: "It was a sort of off-the-cuff comment, but I believe I said ' he's a lunatic and will end up killing someone.'"

The court heard Moat had made it clear that he would never return to prison whatever happened and that he had also boasted about having access to a shotgun.

At the start of proceedings a statement from Mr Brown's mother Sally was read out in court saying that, since her son's death, it had been hell for the family.

She said: "His friends said he was like Marmite - either you loved him or you hated him.

"But if you loved him you had a friend for life. He was very loyal, happy-go-lucky and never sat still.

"As soon as he tried karate he said he loved it and was good at it. He enjoyed teaching it and especially teaching children."

She said in the days leading up to his death he had been in good spirits and they had spoken regularly on the phone.

"It has been horrendous for the whole family. I cannot think of anything worse that burying your own child," she said.

"I can only think of one word to describe it - hell."