An inquest has officially opened into the death of Isaac Clare-Watts, the 26-year-old man whose body was discovered during a summer solstice event in Derbyshire last month. Mr. Clare-Watts, a carpenter from Sherbrook Road, Nottingham, was found in a grassland area close to the historic Nine Ladies Stone Circle in Stanton Lees at 1:38 PM BST on 22 June.
The proceedings commenced at Chesterfield Coroner's Court on Monday, overseen by Susan Evans, the coroner for Derby and Derbyshire. During the hearing, Ms. Evans stated that the findings of a post-mortem examination have not yet been received. She confirmed that Mr. Clare-Watts was identified by his mother at Leicester Royal Infirmary.
The discovery of Mr. Clare-Watts's body led to a murder investigation. Szymon Babynko, a Polish national residing in Commonwealth Way, London, was subsequently charged with Mr. Clare-Watts's murder last month. Mr. Babynko is scheduled to stand trial in November this year.
In addition to the murder charge, Mr. Babynko faces further charges of attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon. These charges relate to a separate incident that occurred on Hady Lane, Chesterfield, on 25 June, just days after Mr. Clare-Watts's body was found.
Coroner Evans offered her sincere condolences to Mr. Clare-Watts's family during the brief hearing. She confirmed that the inquest would be suspended until the conclusion of the criminal proceedings, a standard procedure in cases where criminal charges have been brought.