Man found dead inside burnt out Scots flat 'died from stab wounds to neck'

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A man whose death inside a burnt out Dumfries and Galloway flat sparked a murder probe died of stab wounds to the neck, an inquest has heard.Police Scotland officers were made aware of a blaze at a property on Lady Street, Annan, just before 7am on Tuesday, November 19.

Emergency services attended and the body of 58-year-old Joseph Ernest Johnston was found inside.A inquest into Mr Johnston’s death was opened this morning at Cockermouth Coroners’ Court in Cumbria.

This task fell to acting senior coroner for Cumbria, Ms Kirsty Gomersal, who said during the short hearing: “May I take this opportunity to pass to Mr Johnston’s family and friends my deepest condolences on his passing.”Ms Gomersal outlined brief circumstances surrounding Mr Johnston’s death which were, she said, “well publicised”.

He had been discovered at an address on Lady Street in Annan. One of several documents provided to the coroner was from the Procurator Fiscal which, said Ms Gomersal, “provides a cause of death of stab wounds to the neck”.“There are ongoing criminal investigations and proceedings in Scotland.