An inquest has opened into the death of a prisoner who died in his cell.

It was confirmed 33-year-old Christian Hinkley, who was born in Dartford, died on Monday, July 29, after firefighters were called to HMP Swaleside, in Eastchurch, following reports of a fire in a cell.

At a hearing at Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone this morning, assistant coroner Katrina Hepburn said a cause of death had not yet been established in a post mortem.

The hearing was adjourned after a provisional date was set for it to be resumed on Monday, November 11, at 11.30am.

It is understood a jury will be required as the death took place in custody.

Hinkley was serving a sentence for GBH.

A separate independent investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman is underway, but results are not expected to be published until after the inquest concludes.

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