A CORONER has opened an inquest into the death of a Darlington man on Christmas Day.

On December 25 last year, Justin Malcolm John Turner, 47, was found dead at his father’s house on Cloverdale, Darlington.

Opening the inquest at County Durham and Darlington Coroner’s Court in Crook on Friday, Coroner Crispin Oliver said a post-mortem carried out shortly after Mr Turner’s death indicated the cause to be self-inflicted.

He said: “The cause of death has been established as hanging.

“The inquest is to be opened.”

The inquest is expected to be concluded on March 8.