A man was stabbed in the heart and suffered a "violent and unnatural" death during dramatic scenes at his home, an inquest has heard.

Xhovan Pepaj, 25, was found dead at his home in Caley Road, Tunbridge Wells, at around 3.15am on December 4.

An inquest opening at County Hall in Maidstone heard how he died from multiple injuries following a "large incident" at the address.

Coroner Alan Blunsdon told the court how "several" 999 calls were made to an incident involving knives and guns, as well as a fire at the address.

He explained on arrival officers found a broken window and signs of forced entry.

They headed upstairs where there was a locked metal gate and a sheet, under which Mr Pepaj was found with multiple stab wounds on his back and torso.

Paramedics arrived and tried to save his life with CPR but he went into cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at the scene.

His cause of death was given as hemopericardium, as a result of being stabbed in the heart.

The inquest was adjourned to be heard in full at County Hall on Thursday, August 25.

A total of 10 people are expected to go on trial accused of murdering Mr Pepaj at his Tunbridge Wells home.

A 17-year-old from Ilford - who can't be named - and seven others appeared at Maidstone Crown Court in February to enter not guilty pleas to murder and manslaughter.

Thy also denied being part of a conspiracy to rob Mr Pepaj of cannabis plants.

They are: Ciaran Stewart, 18, of Curtis Road, Hornchurch; Zach Cutting, 23, of Roundhills, Waltham Abbey; Ray Renda, 21, of Sandringham Road, Pilgrims Hatch, Brentwood; Nathan Rainforth, 20, of Gloucester Road, Pilgrims Hatch; Nathan Turner, 28, of Myrtle Road, Brentwood; Donte Simpson-Palmer, 18, of Norfolk Road, Ilford and Mohammed Miah, 25, of Highfield Road, Romford.

Two more, Glen Hough, 51, of Kings Road, Brentford and Bartosz Malawski, 21, of Mitchem Road, Croydon, also appeared in the dock.

Neither were required to enter pleas but are expected to return to court this month when a Polish interpreter will be present for Malawski.

The trial is expected to begin on October 3 and is likely to take up to 10 weeks and the prosecution will be led by Oliver Saxby QC.

A High Court judge will be assigned the trial which may now be heard at a new "super court" at Loughborough or Manchester - designed to hold cases involving many defendants.

Following his death tributes were paid to Xhovan Pepaj following his death last year.

One friend wrote: "May your soul rest in peace, our friend and brother."

While another added: "Condolences to the family. May his soul rest in peace."

A third man commented: "Unbelievable. Sincere condolences to the family and relatives. Christ put him in his paradise."