Crufts canine breeder homicide accused ‘acquired quite a few threats’ earlier than taking his personal life
Alex Verdu Munoz, 26, was found dead in a healthcare unit at Strangeways prison a day before a scheduled court appearance
Valerie Freer (Image: PA)
A man charged with the murder of a Cruft’s dog breeder took his own life at Strangeways, following claims of “numerous threats from other prisoners” against him, according to a recent report.
Alex Verdu Munoz, aged 26, was discovered deceased in a healthcare unit just one day prior to a planned court hearing.
He had been accused of the murder of Valerie Freer, 68, who succumbed to neck injuries near Lichfield, Staffordshire, in February 2022, along with charges of aggravated burglary, possession of a knife and dangerous driving. One of Mrs Freer’s dogs had previously achieved runner-up status in the Best in Show category at Crufts in 2014.
The report into Munoz’s death, released by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, discloses that the Argentinian national had only been in the UK for six weeks before the murder. He was found hanged at HMP Manchester on 15 May 2022.
The report indicates he was subject to suicide prevention procedures there and had informed staff he had received “numerous threats”, reports the Manchester Evening News. Two months prior to his death, an officer noted Munoz was “quite clearly a target and under threat” on E Wing.
Consequently, he was reported to have “isolated himself” within the prison. Munoz was also recuperating from an open fracture of a shin bone, allegedly sustained in a car crash “while being chased by police” following the murder, and was using crutches.
The report discloses he was moved to HMP Manchester on March 17, 2022, and disclosed threats against him six days afterwards. A “separate, isolated” arrangement was put in place for him and he was relocated in mid-April to a healthcare inpatient ward. Munoz, the report continues, subsequently disclosed threats made towards him by fellow inmates in the ward “due to his offence”.
He attended court on May 13 and the next day, following a welfare evaluation, he “said that he was fine”. A nurse expressed “no concerns” and described him as “pleasant and polite”, with no thoughts of suicide or self-harm.
Munoz was scheduled to appear in court again on May 16, but was discovered hanged the day prior. The report stated: “Police attending Mr Munoz’s cell found a note written in Spanish.
“Imminent risk of harm”
“The note was addressed to Mr Munoz’s family and indicated that his intention was to take his life. Prison staff rightly completed welfare checks following Mr Munoz’s court appearances, which might have increased his risk of harm to himself.
“A nurse had no concerns about his wellbeing and told us that he appeared ‘quite unremarkable’. We do not consider that prison or healthcare staff missed any opportunities to identify an imminent risk of harm.”
A verdict of suicide was recorded after an inquest into his death. The inquest jury was informed that it remained unclear whether Munoz intended to plead guilty or not guilty to the charges he faced at the hearing on May 16.
They concluded that the verbal abuse he endured in prison could have contributed to his death. An inquest conducted in Staffordshire in December 2022 heard that Mrs Freer had been stabbed 16 times, and a coroner determined she was unlawfully killed.
It was reported that Munoz had rented Airbnb accommodation in Whittington and his hire car was spotted near her home around the time of her death. A knife stained with her blood, along with lock-picking tools, were discovered when police searched the vehicle.
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