Inquest opened into death of four-year-old girl allegedly murdered by her mother

An inquest has been opened and adjourned into the death of a four-year-old girl allegedly murdered by her mother.

Amelia Brooke Harris died at her home on Brithweunydd Road in Trealaw, Rhondda, South Wales, on June 8.

Her mother, Carly Ann Harris, 37, has since appeared before Merthyr Magistrates’ Court and Cardiff Crown Court charged with murder.

An inquest at Pontypridd Coroner’s Court heard the cause of Amelia’s death is “pending further investigation”.

Robert Lewis, coroner’s officer from South Wales Police, told the hearing that Amelia was born on July 18 in 2013 and died on June 8 this year.

“At 10.15pm on that date, a male was heard shouting in the road that someone was dead,” he said.

“On police arrival there were a number of emergency service vehicles present.

“Police attended a rear garden and discovered a wooden coffee table with a child’s body on it.

“At 10.30pm that day, police arrested the deceased’s mother for murder.”

The inquest heard Amelia was identified to police by her grandmother.

A post-mortem examination was carried out on June 10, with the cause of death pending further investigation, Mr Lewis said.

Histology and toxicology samples are being retained for analysis, the inquest heard.

Andrew Barkley, senior coroner for South Wales Central, said: “The inquest touching on the death of the late Amelia Brooke Harris will now be formally opened.

“We will adjourn it to a review date to understand more about the criminal proceedings.”

No family members attended the short hearing.

They previously paid tribute to Amelia as a “fun-loving, caring and bubbly little girl”.

Harris has not yet entered a plea to the charge she faces and a provisional trial date of December 3 has been set.

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