Paul Darvell (left) and his brother Wayne spent cleared of the crime

Paul Darvell and his brother Wayne spent seven years in jail for killing Sandra Phillips in 1985 before they were freed by the Court of Appeal.

South Wales Police have confirmed Paul Darvell, 42, was found dead at his Neath home on Friday but are not treating his death as suspicious.

The force has reopened the case into Ms Phillips' muder at the Private Shop.

The mother-of-four was beaten, strangled and sexually assaulted at the shop.

The Darvell brothers, who were 25 and 24 at the time, were sentenced to life imprisonment for the crime but were freed by the Court of Appeal in 1992.

Investigators admitted evidence from Wayne Darvell had been doctored and other evidence suppressed.

Appeal judges said the convictions were "unsafe and unsatisfactory" because the prosecution evidence was doubtful.

Forensic techniques'

Following their release in 1992 the brothers were awarded �80,000 in compensation each for the seven years they spent in prison.

Officers involved in the initial investigation were later disciplined over the handling of the inquiry.

A spokesman for South Wales said the murder investigation remained "active".