A WOMAN who murdered her daughter-in-law was found dead in a prison cell with a dressing gown cord around her neck.
Trudi Hudson was serving a life sentence after being convicted in 2005 of killing 20-year-old Rachel Hudson.
She was found dumped at Newstead Abbey in Nottinghamshire in 2004 after suffering four months of abuse from members of her family.
Derbyshire Coroner's Court heard how prison officer Amanda Brewer found Hudson lying on her cell floor at HMP Foston Hall on December 10, 2012, at around 3am.
Another prison officer had called for help after not seeing Hudson in her cell during a routine check and not getting a reply when he called her name.
Miss Brewer was among the first to enter the cell and found Hudson face down on the floor with the cord around her neck.
Asked to recall the incident, she said that upon moving her body: "It sent a shock up my arm because she was so cold".
She said: "When I first saw her I still was not aware that Trudi was not alive.
"Hair covered her face and I shouted her name.
"I moved the hair from her face and it was at that point I realised she was not breathing and was blue in colour."
The court heard that Trudi, 51, helped out in the kitchens at the prison in the mornings.
Checks on prisoners took place at 9pm and operations support grade John Reditt had seen Hudson at 9.10pm sitting on her bed.
He told the court: "I saw Trudi and said 'You do know you're on kitchens in the morning', and she smiled at me."
He then conducted another check up on the prisoners at 3am.
Mr Reditt said: "I opened up the porch and there was no-one in bed.
"I knocked on the door, said ''Trudi, where are you' and there was no sound.
"I tried to speak to her and knocked, but couldn't make her hear."
Mr Reditt told the court it was not uncommon that people would not respond if they were using the bathroom, but he called for backup and Miss Brewer arrived and opened up the cell.
The court heard another prisoner reported hearing a 'badoof' sound at 10.15pm the night Hudson died.
But pathologist Dr Stuart Hamilton said he could not be sure about the time of death of Hudson.
The inquest at Derbyshire Coroner's Court is expected to last until next Monday.
