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Woman dies after suspected assault as man's body found at reservoir

Angharad ThomasBBC Wales
BBC The crime scene at Rocky Road Merthyr Tydfil. There's a forensic tent outside a white house with a white garden wall. A police car is on the left hand side and there's police tape in front of the house. BBC
South Wales Police say the investigation is ongoing and the woman's death is being treated as a homicide

A woman is believed to have died from a traumatic head injury after police were called to an assault, an inquest has heard.

Zoe Dixon, 35, died from her injuries in hospital a week after the incident on 15 June at an address in Merthyr Tydfil, Pontypridd Coroner's Court was told.

A 39-year-old man was found dead a day later at a reservoir, police said.

South Wales Police previously said its investigation was ongoing and being treated as a homicide, and that Dixon's family were being supported by specially trained officers.

The force confirmed it was called to an address in Rocky Road, Penydarren, shortly before midnight on 15 June where a 35-year-old was taken to hospital "following an assault". She died on 22 June.

A 39-year-old man was found dead in the early hours of 16 June at Pontsticill Reservoir in Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, also known as the Brecon Beacons, police said.

BBC Wales The scene at Rocky Road, Merthyr Tydfil. There's a forensic tent outside a white house with a brown brick wall. An officer is stood on the left hand side and there's police tape in front of the house. BBC Wales
Police at the scene on Rocky Road, Merthyr Tydfil

The inquest opening on Thursday heard that "despite best care", Dixon "deteriorated" and died from her injuries.

An initial post-mortem examination provided a provisional cause of death as blunt head injury.

Assistant coroner Rachel Knight said an inquest would be opened into her death as there was reason to believe her death was "both traumatic and unnatural".

"Based on the evidence I have heard, I'm satisfied that it is necessary to open an inquest into the death of Zoe Marie Dixon," she said.

"I want to take this opportunity to express my condolences to the family of Zoe Dixon at this difficult time."

A date for the inquest is yet to be fixed.

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