Inquest opens into death of Courtney Mitchell in Ipswich

Suffolk Coroners Court opened an inquest into the death of Courtney Mitchell who died after an incident in Burrell Road, just three days before her 27th birthday.

Miss Mitchell died on August 6. (Image: Tom Cann)

Detective Superintendent Nicola Wallace, the senior investigating officer in the case, told Suffolk Coroners Court on Friday that Miss Mitchell had been out in the town centre with her friends for much of the day on August 6.

The inquest then heard that Miss Mitchell and her friends walked towards Ipswich Skate Park at 7pm. 

Shortly afterwards the 26-year-old was stabbed multiple times in the upper body.

She received treatment at the scene for her injuries but she was pronounced dead at Ipswich Hospital at 7.51pm.

A home office post-mortem was conducted and the preliminary cause of death is from stab wounds to the chest. 

The inquest has been adjourned to a later date to begin following the ongoing investigation.

Suffolk Coroners Court opened the inquest into Courtney Mitchell's death (Image: Newsquest)

In the days following her death, Miss Mitchell's family paid tribute to her, saying she was a "beautiful daughter, granddaughter, mummy and sister."

They said her "contagious smile lit up any room and her laughter was the sweetest sound in our home."

On what would have been her 27th birthday, family and friends took to Felixstowe beach to release lanterns into the sky in remembrance of the 26-year-old.

Flowers arranged in one of the windows of the hearses at her funeral (Image: Tom Cann)

On September 11, her funeral was held at St Augustine's Church in Ipswich, with family and friends all wearing baby blue, Miss Mitchell's favourite colour, as she was carried to the church by horse and carriage with flower arrangements displaying the words "Daughter, Sister, Cousin, Courts."

A murder investigation has been launched following Miss Mitchell's death. 

Logan Burnett, 27, of All Saints Road in Ipswich, appeared at Suffolk Magistrates' Court and Ipswich Crown Court.

No plea was entered and he was remanded in custody to appear before Ipswich Crown Court in November. 

A second person, a 35-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender in connection with the incident.

The man was taken to Martlesham police investigation centre where he was released on bail with conditions to return to police on October 12.