A WOMAN whose death led to a murder probe was killed from a blow to the head and pressure to her neck, a coroner's court has heard.

Colleen Westlake, 48, was found dead in her home in Pines Road, Chelmsford, at 1.30am on Sunday, April 17, after reports that a man had been assaulted.

Senior coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray opened the inquest into Mrs Westlake's death at Chelmsford Coroner's Court yesterday, April 26.

She said: "Essex Police received a call reporting that an assault had been committed at her home address.

"Police arrived and found her body unresponsive.

"Paramedics confirmed that she had passed away.

"Essex Police commenced their investigations and a post-mortem carried out on Monday, April 18, established that the cause of the death was a blunt force trauma to the head and compression to the neck."

A man in his 50s, named locally as Victor Westlake, was also found at the scene with life-threatening injuries.

He was taken to Broomfield Hospital and was placed in a coma.

Following the attack, Craig Bird, 31, of no fixed abode, was charged with the murder of Mrs Westlake and also the attempted murder of a 59-year-old man.

He has since appeared in Chelmsford Magistrates Court and Chelmsford Crown Court for preliminary hearings.

Bird was once again remanded into custody and ordered to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on June 29.

Judge Charles Gratwicke QC also set a provisional trial date of December 12.

Mrs Westlake's inquest was adjourned and will be listed for mention next week.

Her body will not yet be released.

Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to call Essex Police on 101.