AMANDA MURDER INQUIRY: The family of Amanda Edwards is unable to lay her to rest because the cause of her death is still a mystery.

Wiltshire Coroner, David Masters, opened an inquest into Miss Edwards' death last Thursday but said he was unable to release her body for a funeral until the pathologist had finished his investigation.

A second inquest, also opened on Thursday, heard that Ian Cortis, 42, the man suspected of kidnapping the 21-year-old nursery nurse, was found hanging by four dressing gown cords, from a loft beam at the home of his father-in-law's house in Woodsage Way, Calne.

Amanda's body was found buried on a building site at the former Knoll House Hotel in Malmesbury on April 16, eight days after she was first reported missing by her parents.

Her body had been heavily wrapped in layers of material and her personal effects, including her handbag, had also been wrapped and buried nearby.

The inquest at Trowbridge Town Hall, heard that her mother Beverly formally identified her daughter the following day at Southmead Hospital in Bristol.

Pathologist Dr Basil Purdue had so far been unable to establish the cause of her death and his investigation was continuing.

Det Ch Insp Paul Howlett, head of Wiltshire CID, told Mr Masters: "The investigation is ongoing in the sense that we are still trying to obtain a greater understanding of the way she died."

But he confirmed that detectives were not looking for anyone else in connection with Miss Edwards' death.

Both inquests were adjourned. The Coroner asked the police to keep in touch with him saying: "I want to release Amanda's body to her parents for the funeral as soon as I possibly can."