Woman cleared of murder died of bulimia nervosa

She was the sweetest, kindest, most generous and funniest person I knew

- by OLIVIER VERGNAULT

A WOMAN who was cleared of murder at a retrial, after spending five years in prison, "didn't want to die, but didn't know how to live", an inquest into her death has heard.

Stacey Hyde, who later changed her name to Anastasia Darlison, moved to Cornwall to escape a life of abuse, in the hope of starting afresh.

An inquest into her death held in Truro heard of the challenges the 32-year-old faced throughout her life.

Ms Hyde not only had a difficult childhood but was sent to prison at the age of 17 for killing her friend's boyfriend. After five years in jail, she won the right to a retrial and was eventually cleared of murder, having convinced a jury that her act had been one of self-defence.

The inquest hearing was told how Ms Hyde, who was born in Southmead, Bristol, found it difficult to cope with life outside the prison system and fell prey to others who abused her. She became an alcoholic and also used heroin and cocaine.