An inquest into the death of Burnham-On-Sea man Joseph Pearce has been opened this week.
Tony Williams, Somerset’s senior coroner, opened the inquest on Wednesday, July 19th at Taunton Coroners Office.
The court heard that an ambulance was first called to Churchill Close in Burnham on July 10th after reports of a stabbing.
A murder probe was launched after the death in Churchill Close, just off Worston Lane, shortly before midnight last Monday. Joseph Pearce, 40, from Burnham-On-Sea, died at the scene.
The coroner read an extract from the victim’s preliminary post mortem which stated that the cause of death was a stab wound to the chest.
The inquest was adjourned while a police investigation into the death continues.
It was confirmed that a case management review will take place in around six months.
The two men charged with the murder – Dominic Lacey, 21, of Newham Place, Patchway and James Hobbs, 43, of Churchill Close, Burnham – appeared at Exeter Crown Court on Tuesday and were refused bail, as we reported here.
The two have been remanded in custody and will appear at Exeter Crown Court on August 25th to enter a plea, with the trial due to begin in January, 2018.
