A mum-of-three was fatally stabbed in the leg through a door panel which had been kicked in, an inquest has heard.

Samantha Murphy, of Elfrida Close, Margate, had been at a friend's party in the same street - and remained there into the early hours.

Ms Murphy, 37, had gone to the front door and suffered a stab wound to the leg "through the door panel, which had been kicked in", the inquest opening in Maidstone heard.

Police and paramedics arrived at the scene at about 3.10am on Saturday, July 16, where the London-born victim was found with her injuries.

She was later pronounced dead and identified by a police officer for the coroner's office.

Coroner Sonia Hayes gave Ms Murphy's cause of death as a stab wound to the leg.

The inquest was opened and immediately adjourned due to criminal proceedings until further notice.

Ms Murphy's partner Thomas Allen, also of Elfrida Close, has been charged with murder and possession of an offensive weapon.

He appeared at Maidstone Crown Court last week via prison video link but did not enter a plea.

The 38-year-old was remanded in custody and will stand trial on January 3 next year.

Kelsie Murphy, who is accused of assisting an offender by concealing a weapon, appeared via a video link from a house in London.

The 26-year-old, of West Dumpton Lane, Ramsgate, did not enter a plea.

She was granted bail until the next hearing on August 18, when pleas and trial preparation will be decided.

The trial at Maidstone is expected to take between three to four weeks.

Samantha’s niece, Megan Murphy, has launched a fundraiser to help her three children - aged nine, 14 and 22 - pay for her funeral.

Megan wrote that the family "want to give Samantha a “beautiful send-off”.

“Please keep our broken family in your hearts, especially my baby cousins,” she added.

The fundraiser can be viewed here.

Anyone with information which can assist police, including eyewitnesses and anyone with privately held CCTV or dashcam footage recorded in the area, is urged to contact officers on 01843 222289 quoting 46/136649/22.

You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.