A man who was to stand trial Tuesday in St. John's on kidnapping and sexual assault charges has killed himself.

Darren Joseph Fagan, 37, was found dead at Her Majesty's Penitentiary, in the east end of St. John's.

Darren Joseph Fagan, pictured during a court appearance last week, was to have stood trial Tuesday on several charges, including kidnapping.
(CBC)

Justice Michael Harrington told those who had assembled for Fagan's trial on Tuesday morning that he had killed himself.

Police and an ambulance were called to the prison at about 6:30 a.m.

Fagan was charged in connection with the abduction of a woman in August 2006 at a gas station in the Kilbride area of St. John's.

Police said the woman, who was 36 at the time and did not know her assailant, was held in the car overnight, was sexually assaulted twice and was taken to the St. Mary's Bay area.

The woman was able to escape from the car and seek help at a nearby house. 

On Tuesday, lawyers for the Crown and for Fagan had no comment on his suicide, nor did the family of the woman who had been kidnapped and assaulted. 

After the charges against Fagan were withdrawn, Harrington dismissed the jury.

Sent to prison for earlier assault

Fagan, who had lived in Riverhead, St. Mary's Bay, had had a violent history.

He had been sentenced to 4½ years in prison for a 1992 conviction for sexual assault with a weapon. Parole and court documents show he was in trouble with the law, including convictions for theft, throughout his adult life.

After his arrest in August 2006, Riverhead Mayor Gloria White said many residents of the small community were fearful and that the town council wanted to be alerted to his movements.

Fagan's sister, Joanne Bowen, told CBC News at that time that she shared the community's anxiety.

"If I had young kids, … yes, I'd be scared, too," Bowen said.