AN inquest has opened into the death of a 49-year-old unemployed mason after police charged a man with his murder in Dartmouth.

Colin Edwards was found unresponsive at the bottom of some stairs at St Barnabas Church in Newcomen Road, Dartmouth, on Saturday, August 22.

Mr Edwards was pronounced dead at the scene despite paramedics attempts to resuscitate him.

Dean Rosser, 48, of Jubilee Close, Dartmouth, appeared at Torquay Magistrates Court on Thursday, charged with the murder of Mr Edwards.

Rosser was also charged with the possession of cocaine.

He did not enter a plea for either charge.

He was remanded in custody and will appear at Plymouth Crown Court on September 21 for a preliminary hearing.

Mr Edwards’ inquest was officially opened in Torquay on Friday.

The opening statement said that he was born in Plymouth on August 19, 1966.

He was single, he lived in Jubilee Close, Dartmouth, and he was an unemployed mason, the inquest was told.

He was identified by a fingerprint expert from Devon and Cornwall Police.

The medical cause of death has yet to be ascertained, pending histology and toxicology results.

There has been a request to retain the body for 14 days.

St Barnabas Church is no longer used as a church, and is a half-way house for people waiting for accommodation.