Inquest opens on man found dead in Market Drayton street
The inquest of a man who was found lying in a Market Drayton street with severe head injuries has been opened and adjourned.
Graham Whittingham died at the Royal Stoke Hospital on June 16, three days after he was found unconscious by a member of the public in Smithfield Road.
The retired postman has been drinking in The Stag's Head on the night of June 13 with a friend.
Mr John Ellery, senior coroner for Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, opened his inquest at Shirehall in Shrewsbury on Thursday.
Mr Whittingham, 58, was taken first to Princess Royal Hospital in Telford and then transferred to the Royal Stoke University Hospital for further treatment but died.
A post mortem was carried out and found that Mr Whittingham died of pneumonia, blunt head injuries and liver disease.
Police initially launched an investigation to discover how Mr Whittingham came by his injuries.
The inquest was adjourned to March 28 and will be heard at Shirehall.
