THE suspected killer of a Merseyside mum and daughter was set to claim a never-traced “Russian friend” was responsible for their deaths.

Barry Morrow was discovered hanged by wardens visiting his cell in Strangeways prison in Manchester on Thursday morning.

The 51-year-old was due to stand trial for suffocating Angela Holgate, 54, who he was lodging with, and her mum, Alice Huyton, 75.

The engineer fled to Dover after the bodies were found in Angela’s house in Fairhaven Road, Churchtown, Southport, by Mrs Holgate’s son-in-law Colin Hyde.

Today it emerged how Morrow was due to give an explanation for their deaths.

Legal sources, who were in contact with Morrow while he was being hunted by police, said he denied the killings.

The ECHO can reveal how Morrow was going to pin the blame for the deaths on a mystery pal called “Russian Trevor”.

It is understood Morrow claimed:

He had found Angela Holgate dead after he informed her he didn’t want a romantic relationship.

He sped down south to the Channel ferry to travel to Europe – not to evade justice but because his son phoned him claiming he had been kidnapped in Spain.

“Russian Trevor” killed Angela’s mum, Alice Huyton, after going round to the house.

The ECHO understands Merseyside Police immediately rejected the story and no sign of any Russian friend or kidnapped son has ever materialised.

At no stage, it is understood, did Morrow give any admission or remorse for the deaths.

And police enquiries pinpointed how any relationship between Morrow and Mrs Holgate had been historic.

A source close to Morrow said the reason Barry gave was Angela killed herself “because he had put the block on a relationship”.

The source added: “He said he got in touch with a friend called ‘Russian Trevor’ who instructed him to put Angela’s body in the bedroom.