A FORMER soldier who was serving a life sentence for killing a man in a brutal carving-fork attack has died.

Darwen man David Michael Kershaw, 47, was jailed in 2008 for killing Joseph Conroy.

Father-of-six Mr Conroy, 51, was found dead on his bed in Redearth Road, Darwen, on April 18, 2008.

Kershaw was arrested after his mother contacted officers when he confessed to her.

Despite that admission, Kershaw had denied the offence at court and was due to stand trial. But he eventually pleaded guilty to the murder of Mr Conroy, who Preston Crown Court heard had become friends with Kershaw through their shared love of fishing and interest in the angling club at Watery Lane in Darwen.

Judge Anthony Russell QC jailed him for life and told him he would be eligible for parole in 13 years, meaning he could have been released on licence in 2021.

Kershaw was being held at HMP Buckley Hall, Rochdale, but died in hospital at 1.45pm on August 17. A Prison Service spokesman said: “As with all deaths in custody there will be an investigation by the independent Prisons & Probation Ombudsman.”

After he was jailed, police described Kershaw, of Birch Hall Avenue, Darwen, as violent, dangerous and callous.

In 2008, DI Mark Rothwell said: “Mr Conroy’s family and friends may never come to terms with these events. I hope they can take a crumb of comfort from knowing that Joseph’s attacker is behind bars.”