Funeral of knifed girl held up for more tests

Casey-Lyanne, 13, was discovered in Elmfield Park, Doncaster, last Tuesday lunchtime with a fatal stab wound. She died around eight hours later in intensive care at Doncaster Royal Infirmary.

An inquest into her death, which opened at Doncaster Coroner’s Court yesterday, heard that lawyers for Hannah Bonser, who is accused of murdering the teenager, had demanded a second examination.

Coroner Nicola Mundy said she was “keen to enable the family to make arrangements” and said the body would be released at the end of the week after the legal team’s request had been satisfied.

Mrs Mundy said the initial post-mortem examination, carried out by a Home Office pathologist, had found that the cause of Casey-Lyanne’s death was a single stab wound to the abdomen.

Det Sgt Andrew Shields, who is involved in the murder inquiry, told the hearing that Casey-Lyanne called police at 1.18pm on Tuesday, February 14, on her mobile phone to say she had just been stabbed.

The detective said that less than an hour later Bonser had been arrested by officers in Doncaster on suspicion of attempted murder.

He added that strenuous efforts were made by staff at Doncaster Royal Infirmary to save Casey-Lyanne but at 9.25pm on Tuesday she died in the hospital’s intensive care unit.

Det Sgt Shields said Bonser was charged with murder at 6.45pm on Wednesday, February 15.

The inquest also heard a written statement from Casey-Lyanne’s mother Kerry Day, of Rossington, Doncaster, who confirmed she had identified her daughter’s body at Doncaster Royal Infirmary.

Bonser, 26. of Cusworth House, Doncaster is due to appear before Sheffield Crown Court on Thursday. The inquest was adjourned to a date to be fixed.