Inquest opened into death of mum who suffered 'multiple sharp force injuries'

An inquest has been opened into the death of a woman stabbed to death in Tameside. Michelle Hodgkinson was 'attacked by a male' on Edge Lane in Droylsden on Friday, June 2, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.

Despite the best efforts of medics she was declared at the scene. Today (Friday, June 26) a coroner formally opened an inquest into her death at South Manchester Coroner's Court in Stockport.

The hearing was told 51-year-old Ms Hodgkinson, who was born in Manchester and lived on St Andrew's Avenue in Droylsden, was a retail assistant and was single.

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Police Coroner's Officer Alison Catlow said she was formally identified at the Royal Oldham Hospital on June 5. Area Coroner Chris Morris said a post-mortem examination had concluded she died as a result of 'multiple sharp force injuries.'

"That's clearly an unnatural cause of death so I am satisfied an inquest is required subject to any criminal proceedings," he said.

Ms Hodgkinson's daughter and her partner were present in court for the short hearing. Mr Morris told them: "Whether an inquest ever takes places depends on the parallel criminal proceedings, which are ongoing, and the outcome of that."

He adjourned the inquest and provisionally scheduled a pre-inquest review hearing for December 13 this year.

Following Ms Hodgkinson's death, GMP said a 28 year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of murder before being detained under the mental health act. Today a spokesman for the force confirmed no one had been charged.

Ms Hodgkinson's heartbroken family previously paid tribute to her saying: “Everyone who knows Michelle is in utter shock at the attack she endured and how horrific her last