A coroner has recorded an open verdict into the death of a widow whose son had been charged with attacking her before he killed himself in his prison cell.

Minne Keat, 86, was found by her carers with severe bruising to her head and body in the Keighley home she shared with her 59-year-old son Barry, an inquest in Bradford heard yesterday.

Barry Keat, who lived with his mother in the bungalow in Central Avenue after being released from prison, was later arrested for wounding her.

He told police in an interview: “I have never hurt my mother but she took it too far. She wanted to leave and I put my arms around her to stop her leaving. I know I won’t see her again. I’m really sorry.”

Mrs Keat’s injuries, including bruises on her head and neck, back and legs were “consistent with punches or kicks”, the inquest was told.

She died in Airedale General Hospital from pneumonia as a result of a severe head injury, a pathologist discovered following a post-mortem examination.

Detective Inspector Nick Wallen, of West Yorkshire Police’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team (HMET), told the inquest that Barry Keat was found hanged after being arrested. He was discovered in his jail cell in Armley prison, Leeds, on the day of his mother’s funeral.

Det Insp Wallen said: “He was found on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, hanging in his cell at the prison. He had a ligature tied around his neck and had effectively killed himself.”

The inquest heard evidence given to a Home Office pathologist by Mrs Keat’s former carers that they had previously seen bruising on her body.

In his evidence, pathologist Dr Alfredo Walker said bruises to her chest, back and arms suggested she might have been held down or shaken by her shoulders. “The overall pattern of bruising is highly suggestive of non-accidental injuries (or) elder abuse,” he said.

However, the pathologist said he could not rule out that the injury that caused her death, a large bruise on her forehead, had been caused accidentally by her falling from a seated position.

That is because Mrs Keat, a former textile worker, was suffering from balance problems because of chronic ear infections, the inquest heard.

Recording an open verdict, Coroner Roger Whittaker said her head injury could have been caused by a fall but was also “consistent with being deliberately inflicted”.

He said: “This is one of those cases where, sadly, I shall forever be left without sufficient evidence to reach a conclusion one way or another.”