A dad of two died after being stabbed in the neck in an attack on Canvey, an inquest has heard.

Matt Portwood, 42, was found injured in the car park close to Iceland in Furtherwick Road at about 1.45am on Saturday February 4.

Mr Portwood grew up in Burnham and had gone to St Peter’s High School - now Ormiston Rivers Academy.

Essex Police launched a murder investigation after the man was found injured in the car park.

This morning an inquest into Mr Portwood's death was opened at Essex Coroner's Court in Chelmsford.

 

Deborah Frost, coroner's officer, said: "Mr Portwood from Canvey died on February 4. He was found unresponsive near the car park of Iceland on Canvey.

"An ambulance was called and paramedics attended and his death was confirmed. A post mortem examination was carried out at Southend Mortuary and a provisional cause of death was given of a stab wound to the neck."

Coroner Lincoln Brookes said: "I formally open the inquest into the death of Matthew Portwood and suspend the proceedings at the request of Essex Police.

"Police have informed me of a criminal investigation and therefore I suspended the inquest process."

Three men have been charged with murder in connection with Mr Portwood's death.

Jamie Lewis, 24, of Bensham Lane, Croydon, Keith Aransibia, 59, of no fixed abode, and Keiron Aransibia, 28, of Evelyn Denington Road, London, E6 have each been charged with murder.

Lewis has also been charged with sexual assault on a female and possession of a bladed article in a public place and both Keith and Kieron Aransibia have also been charged with assault. 

They were due to appear in Southend Magistrates’ Court on Friday morning.