AP
GULFPORT —
A 42-year-old man charged with capital murder has died after apparently hanging himself while in a cell to change clothes for court.
The Harrison County Sheriff’s Department says the family of 42-year-old John Paul Necaise gave doctors permission Friday to take him off life support.
Necaise began the trial representing himself, but asked for a lawyer Tuesday evening.
The judge declared a mistrial after Necaise was found hanging by his belt in a cell where he went to change out of his jail uniform before Thursday’s session.
Necaise was accused of stabbing Francis Roberts in the back.
Roberts was reported missing Oct. 30; after a five-day search his body was found in woods near the Jefferson Davis Campus of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
