A MAN cleared of killing is his lover in a notorious North-East murder trial has been found dead - almost 26 years to the day after she was burnt alive.

The body of 46-year-old gipsy Lawrence Wood was found dead in his fume-filled van on Monday.

In a bizarre twist, Mr Wood's apparent suicide came only days before the 26th anniversary of the murder of his lover, fairground heiress Miriam Culine.

Known as the Candy Floss Queen, Miriam Culine's charred body was discovered in her burnt-out car on allotments in the early hours of Tuesday, August 22, 1978.

Forensic scientists said she had been drugged or knocked unconscious, stripped and dumped in the car which was then set on fire.

Chillingly, they said the victim had still been alive when the car was torched on allotments in West Cornforth, County Durham.

Mr Wood, an out-of-work horse dealer, was arrested by detectives and charged with murder.

He had carried on a passionate affair with 33-year-old Mrs Culine behind the back of her elderly husband Fred Culine who ran a travelling fairground.

But Mr Wood said their romance had come to an end when the 74-year-old showman found out his wife was having an affair. He claimed Miriam was convinced she was being followed as she planned to run away from the fairground where she had worked since she was 17.

He denied murder and stealing gold jewellery and china from the victim.

The following year, a jury at Teesside Crown Court took less than four hours to find Mr Wood not guilty.

After ten months in custody he walked free from court.

Shortly after the trial, Mr Culine died of a heart attack.

Mr Wood was descended from a long line of gipsies who - according to records - first took the surname when they settled in England from Turkey more than 300 years ago.

Originally from a travelling family, Mr Wood and his family settled in Wingate, County Durham, when his father became ill. He went to school in Coxhoe.

When his father died the funeral was marked by a huge procession of gipsy caravans through the town.

Mr Wood earned money selling horses and dealing in scrap, sea coal and animals.

After the trial he elected to stay in County Durham and at the time of his death was living in a caravan in Market Crescent Gardens in Wingate.

North Durham Deputy Coronor Breda Davidson opened and adjourned an inquest yesterday to allow the funeral to take place.

Mr Wood's funeral will be held next Tuesday at 2pm at St Mary's Church Coxhoe which will be followed by his burial.

A police spokesman said yesterday: "There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death. It is now up to the coroner to decide the reasons for his death.''