A 14-year-old girl, Lilly Anne Jones, died from multiple stab wounds to her chest and neck, an inquest at Gwent Coroner's Court has heard. Her body was discovered in the Duffryn Park area of Blaina, south Wales, on June 22, two days after she was reported missing.
A 14-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with her murder. He appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on June 29 and was remanded into custody. A trial is scheduled to begin on November 23 and is expected to last four weeks.
Lilly was last seen in High Street, Blaina, at approximately 6:50 p.m. on June 20. Her family reported her missing that evening. Drones were utilized in the police search for Lilly before her body was found in a woodland area near the bowls club, about half a mile from where she was last seen.
Senior coroner Caroline Saunders stated that the provisional cause of death was multiple stab wounds to the neck and trunk. A post-mortem examination was conducted by Dr. Richard Jones. The coroner has set a provisional inquest date for April 6, 2027.
The discovery has deeply affected the local community. Flowers have been laid at the entrance to Duffryn Park in tribute to Lilly. Councillor Lisa Catherine Winnett described the community as 'devastated' by the incident.