A 14-year-old schoolgirl who was found dead in a park is believed to have died from multiple stab wounds, an inquest has heard.
The body of Lilly Anne Jones was discovered in the Duffryn Park area of Blaina on 22 June after she was reported missing two days earlier.
An inquest opening at Gwent Coroner’s Court on Monday heard that the 14-year-old was found with injuries to her chest and neck.
A 14-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court last month accused of murdering Lilly.
Gwent Coroner’s Court heard Lilly, from Blaina, was reported missing from her home address on the evening of 20 June.
She was discovered shortly after 10pm on 22 June in a woodland location near the bowls club with injuries to her chest and neck. She was pronounced dead at 10.45pm, the court heard.
Senior coroner Caroline Saunders said a post-mortem examination was conducted by Dr Richard Jones and provided a provisional cause of death.
She said: “The medical cause of death he has provided me with is 1A, multiple stab wounds to the neck and trunk.
“The matter will be adjourned so that further inquiries can be made.”
The coroner set a provisional inquest date of 6 April 2027.
Lilly was last seen in High Street, Blaina, at around 6.50pm on 20 June.
Parts of Pilgrims Park, which is adjacent to the A467 in Blaina, were cordoned off after her body was discovered.
Floral tributes were left close to the scene by members of the public.
A 14-year-old boy charged with her murder appeared at court on 29 June.
Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, the Recorder of Cardiff, fixed a trial date beginning on 23 November, which is due to last four weeks.
The youth, who did not enter a plea to the murder charge, was remanded into custody until his next court appearance.
The boy, from the Blaenau Gwent area of south-east Wales, was previously described by police as white British.
