Inquest opens after Leeds man's badly burned body found in bin

Fire crews alerted police after being called to deal with a bin fire near the St Augustine’s Wrangthorn church hall on Hyde Park Terrace, Hyde Park, at around 7pm on Saturday January 16.

An inquest opening at Wakefield Coroner’s Court heard 60-year-old Michael Ayres, (pictured) of Midland Road, Hyde Park, Leeds, was pronounced dead at the scene just before 7.30pm that day.

West Yorkshire Coroner David Hinchliff said a post mortem had been carried out and the provisional cause of death was head and neck injuries.

Mr Hinchliff said Mr Ayres, who was divorced and a former lorry driver, was identified by fingerprints.

Detective Superintendent Simon Atkinson, of West Yorkshire Police, told the inquest opening: “At approximately 7.16pm on the evening of January 16 West Yorkshire Police were contacted regarding a report of a badly burned body being found at the corner of St Augustine’s Wrangthorn Church, Hyde Park, that had been found by members of the public. Fire service had attended and contacted police. I attended and reviewed the circumstances and commenced a murder investigation.”

Mr Hinchliff adjourned the inquest and issued a cremation order and death certificate.

Mr Ayres’ sister and two nieces were at the inquest opening.

Mr Hinchliff told told them: “Will you accept my condolences that you have lost Michael in this way.”

- Three men have been charged with murdering Mr Ayres. Stuart Jarvis, 50, and 37-year-old Andrew Jenkins, both of Heights West in Armley, and Stewart Malnieks, 61, of Midland Road, Hyde Park, are also accused of perverting the course of justice.