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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Tia Sharp's body identified as inquest opens | Tia Sharp's body identified as inquest opens |
| (8 months later) | |
| A coroner has opened an inquest into the death of schoolgirl Tia Sharp where it was confirmed her body has now been formally identified. | A coroner has opened an inquest into the death of schoolgirl Tia Sharp where it was confirmed her body has now been formally identified. |
| No further details, including the cause of the 12-year-old's death, were given during the five-minute hearing. | No further details, including the cause of the 12-year-old's death, were given during the five-minute hearing. |
| Tia's body was discovered at her grandmother Christine Sharp's home in New Addington, south London, last Friday, more than a week after she was reported missing. | Tia's body was discovered at her grandmother Christine Sharp's home in New Addington, south London, last Friday, more than a week after she was reported missing. |
| Detective Sergeant Eric Sword, of the Metropolitan police's specialist crime operations unit based at Sutton, told the inquest that a postmortem examination was still being carried out by a pathologist and was due to resume later on Thursday. | Detective Sergeant Eric Sword, of the Metropolitan police's specialist crime operations unit based at Sutton, told the inquest that a postmortem examination was still being carried out by a pathologist and was due to resume later on Thursday. |
| Asked by the coroner Roy Palmer if the body had been formally identified, Sword said: "From the checks that we have been able to carry out, yes." | Asked by the coroner Roy Palmer if the body had been formally identified, Sword said: "From the checks that we have been able to carry out, yes." |
| "And that body is that of Tia Sharp?" Palmer asked. | "And that body is that of Tia Sharp?" Palmer asked. |
| "That is correct," Sword replied. | "That is correct," Sword replied. |
| Palmer said that once the postmortem examination was completed, Stuart Hazell, who has been charged with Tia's murder, had the right to request a second one by a pathologist of his choice. | Palmer said that once the postmortem examination was completed, Stuart Hazell, who has been charged with Tia's murder, had the right to request a second one by a pathologist of his choice. |
| The coroner asked that, if requested by Hazell, the examination be carried out as soon as possible so Tia's body could be released to her family. | The coroner asked that, if requested by Hazell, the examination be carried out as soon as possible so Tia's body could be released to her family. |
| The inquest, at South London coroner's court in Croydon, was adjourned until a later date. | The inquest, at South London coroner's court in Croydon, was adjourned until a later date. |
| Hazell, 37, from New Addington, is charged with murdering Tia between 2 and 11 August. | Hazell, 37, from New Addington, is charged with murdering Tia between 2 and 11 August. |
| He appeared at the Old Bailey via videolink from Belmarsh prison in south-east London on Wednesday, and was remanded in custody to appear for a plea and case management hearing at the same court on 19 November. | He appeared at the Old Bailey via videolink from Belmarsh prison in south-east London on Wednesday, and was remanded in custody to appear for a plea and case management hearing at the same court on 19 November. |
| A provisional trial date was set for 21 January next year. | A provisional trial date was set for 21 January next year. |
| Hazell is the partner of Christine Sharp, 46, who was arrested on suspicion of murder but bailed on Sunday pending further inquiries. Her next-door neighbour, Paul Meehan, 39, has been bailed on suspicion of assisting an offender. | Hazell is the partner of Christine Sharp, 46, who was arrested on suspicion of murder but bailed on Sunday pending further inquiries. Her next-door neighbour, Paul Meehan, 39, has been bailed on suspicion of assisting an offender. |
| Police only discovered Tia's body after several visits to the terraced property, and have apologised to her mother, Natalie Sharp, for the delay. | Police only discovered Tia's body after several visits to the terraced property, and have apologised to her mother, Natalie Sharp, for the delay. |
| A serious case review has been launched into Tia's death by Merton council, which has responsibility for Mitcham, south London, where Tia lived with her mother. | A serious case review has been launched into Tia's death by Merton council, which has responsibility for Mitcham, south London, where Tia lived with her mother. |
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