UPDATE:

A post-mortem examination on the body of schoolgirl Tia Sharp have failed to find out how she died.

Further tests are to be carried out on the schoolgirl's body after a full post-mortem examination at Croydon Mortuary was completed on Thursday.

It did not establish a formal cause of death, Scotland Yard said.

A coroner opened an inquest into the death of schoolgirl Tia Sharp today where it was confirmed her body has now been formally identified.

No further details, including the cause of the 12-year-old's death, were given during the five-minute hearing.

Tia's body was discovered at her grandmother Christine Sharp's home in New Addington, south London, last Friday, more than a week after she was reported missing.

Detective Sergeant Eric Sword, of the Metropolitan Police's specialist crime operations unit based at Sutton, told the inquest that a post-mortem examination is still being carried out by a pathologist and is due to resume later today.

Asked by Coroner Roy Palmer if the body has now been formally identified, Mr Sword said: "From the checks that we have been able to carry out, yes."

"And that body is that of Tia Sharp?" the coroner asked.

"That is correct," he replied.

stuart hazell

Stuart Hazell appeared at the Old Bailey on Thursday via video-link from Belmarsh prison

Dr Palmer said that once the post-mortem examination is completed, Stuart Hazell, who has been charged with Tia's murder, has the right to request a second one by a pathologist of his choice.

The coroner asked that this be carried out as soon as possible, if it is necessary, so that Tia's body can be released to her family.

The inquest, at South London Coroner's Court in Croydon, was adjourned until a later date.

Hazell, 37, from New Addington, is charged with murdering the schoolgirl between August 2 and 11.

He appeared at the Old Bailey via video-link from Belmarsh prison in south east London yesterday, and was remanded in custody to appear for a plea and case management hearing at the same court on November 19.

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A provisional trial date was set for January 21 next year.

The Sun reports that relatives of the dead girl are angry that Hazell has been spared having to face the court in the flesh.

Angie Niles, whose son David is the partner of Tia's mother, told the newspaper: "We're having to put on this brave face but Hazell hasn't had to show his."

Meanwhile it has emerged Hazell's barrister is the QC who defended Princess Diana's former butler Paul Burrell. Lord Alex Carlisle's services normally cost £900 a day, but are available to Hazell through legal aid.

Hazell is the partner of Ms Sharp, 46, who was arrested on suspicion of murder but bailed on Sunday pending further inquiries.

Her next-door neighbour, Paul Meehan, 39, has been bailed on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Police only discovered Tia's body after several visits to the terraced property, and have apologised to her mother, Natalie Sharp, for the delay.

A serious case review has been launched into Tia's death by Merton Council, which has responsibility for Mitcham, south London, where Tia lived with her mother.


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  • Missing girl

    RETRANSMISSION IMPROVING ASPECT RATIO.BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE.Undated Metropolitan Police handout photo of Tia Sharp.

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Christine Sharp, the grandmother of missing Tia Sharp leaves in a police vehicle accompanied by detectives on August 10, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Police seal off the estate surrounding the home of Christine Sharp, the grandmother of missing Tia Sharp, on August 10, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Police forensic units approach the sealed off home of Christine Sharp, the grandmother of missing Tia Sharp, on August 10, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Police seal off the estate surrounding the home of Christine Sharp, the grandmother of missing Tia Sharp, on August 10, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Police seal off the estate surrounding the home of Christine Sharp, the grandmother of missing Tia Sharp, on August 10, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Police seal off the estate surrounding the home of Christine Sharp, the grandmother of missing Tia Sharp, on August 10, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Christine Sharp, the grandmother of missing Tia Sharp leaves her home accompanied by detectives on August 10, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Christine Sharp, the grandmother of missing Tia Sharp leaves her home accompanied by detectives on August 10, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Christine Sharp, the grandmother of missing Tia Sharp leaves her home accompanied by detectives on August 10, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Police dogs leave after searching the house of the grandmother of missing Tia Sharp on August 10, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Christine Sharp, the grandmother of missing Tia Sharp leaves her home accompanied by detectives on August 10, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: DCI Nick Scola makes a statement to the press outside the home of Tia Sharp's grandmother, where a candle burns in the garden on August 9, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: Police from Durham constabulary, drafted in from Olympic duties, search garages around the home of Tia Sharp's grandmother on August 9, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: DCI Nick Scola makes a statement to the press outside the home of Tia Sharp's grandmother on August 9, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: DCI Nick Scola makes a statement to the press outside the home of Tia Sharp's grandmother on August 9, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: David Sharp makes a statement to the press concerning missng Tia Sharp, his niece, outside her grandmother's home on August 9, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: David Sharp makes a statement to the press concerning missng Tia Sharp, his niece, outside her grandmother's home on August 9, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: Police search refuse bins around the home of Tia Sharp's grandmother on August 9, 2012 in New Addington, in the in the London Borough of Croydon, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: Police search refuse bins around the home of Tia Sharp's grandmother on August 9, 2012 in New Addington, in the in the London Borough of Croydon, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • Missing girl

    Forensic police officers leave the home of Christine Sharp, grandmother of missing school girl Tia Sharp in New Addington near Croydon today.

  • Missing girl

    Forensic police officers leave the home of Christine Sharp, grandmother of missing school girl Tia Sharp in New Addington near Croydon today.

  • Missing Girl

    DCI Nick Scola speaks to the media in New Addington, Croydon, as police continue to investigate the disappearance of Tia Sharp.

  • Missing Girl

    David Sharp, the uncle of missing Tia Sharp, speaks to the media in New Addington, Croydon.

  • Missing girl

    David Sharp, the uncle of missing Tia Sharp, speaks to the media in New Addington, Croydon.

  • Missing girl

    A police officers takes a break from searching through rubbish bins near Tia Sharp's grandmother's home in New Addington, London.

  • Missing girl

    Police officers search through rubbish bins near Tia Sharp's grandmother's home in New Addington, London.

  • Missing girl

    Police officers search through rubbish bins outside Tia Sharp's grandmother's home in New Addington, London.

  • Missing girl

    Stuart Hazell,37, the partner of Christine Sharp, grandmother of missing Tia Sharp, leaves their home at the Lindens, New Addington, south east London, with detectives, as police and worried community members continued to search for the missing schoolgirl, five days after she vanished without a trace.

  • Missing girl

    Stuart Hazell,37, the partner of Christine Sharp, grandmother of missing Tia Sharp, leaves their home at the Lindens, New Addington, south east London, with detectives, as police and worried community members continued to search for the missing schoolgirl, five days after she vanished without a trace.

  • Missing girl

    Stuart Hazell,37, the partner of Christine Sharp, grandmother of missing Tia Sharp, is mobbed by the media, as he leaves their home at the Lindens, New Addington, south east London, with detectives, as police and worried community members continued to search for missing the schoolgirl five days after she vanished without a trace.

  • Missing girl

    Stuart Hazell,37, the partner of Christine Sharp, grandmother of missing Tia Sharp, follows a detective as he leaves their home at the Lindens, New Addington, south east London, as police and worried community members continued to search for missing the schoolgirl five days after she vanished without a trace.

  • Missing girl

    Stuart Hazell,37, the partner of Christine Sharp, grandmother of missing Tia Sharp, is mobbed by the media, as he leaves their home at the Lindens, New Addington, south east London, with detectives, as police and worried community members continued to search for missing the schoolgirl five days after she vanished without a trace.

  • Missing girl

    A general view of the home Christine Sharp, grandmother of missing Tia Sharp, in New Addington, London, as police and worried community members are continuing to search for missing the schoolgirl five days after she vanished without a trace.

  • Missing girl

    Messages are left at a bus stop near the home of Christine Sharp, grandmother of Tia Sharp, who went missing last Friday, as police and worried community members continued to search for missing the schoolgirl five days after she vanished without a trace.

  • Missing girl

    BEST QUALITY AVAILABLEUndated handout photo issued by the Metropolitan Police of 12-year-old Tia Sharp, who was last seen leaving her grandmother's home in New Addington, south east London, at around midday on Friday.

  • Missing girl

    BEST QUALITY AVAILABLEUndated handout photo issued by the Metropolitan Police of 12-year-old Tia Sharp, who was last seen leaving her grandmother's home in New Addington, south east London, at around midday on Friday.