THE boyfriend of Lliswerry woman Nikitta Grender paid an emotional tribute in yesterday's Argus.

The poem, signed ‘Your heartbroken boyfriend Ryan XXX’ was published on the day the inquest into Miss Grender’s death began in Newport.

Gwent Coroner David Bowen opened the inquest into the death of the 19-year-old found by firefighters who were called to a blaze at her home in Broadmead Park on February 5.

Miss Grender’s body will now be released to her family for her funeral on Wednesday.

Gwent coroner's officer Kenneth Le Prevost told the inquest at Gwent Coroner’s Office how firefighters received an emergency call at 8am on February 5 reporting a blaze at Miss Grender’s flat.

After using forced entry to get in, they found the flat filled with smoke with the fire coming from the main bedroom. The door to the bedroom was closed.

After battling the blaze, they found the body of Miss Grender lying on the bed and saw she was pregnant.

A post mortem examination carried out by pathologist Dr Stephen Leadbeater showed that Miss Grender, an unemployed shopworker, "had been stabbed", Mr Le Prevost said, and that her baby, who was near full-term, had also died.

The Argus reported how the family had named the unborn baby Kelsey-May.

Newport man Carl Whant, 26, is charged with Miss Grender’s murder and an offence of child destruction under the Infant Life (Preservation) Act 1929, which relates to destroying the life of a child before life existed externally from its mother.

He is currently in custody awaiting his next court hearing in May.

Mr Bowen adjourned the inquest for at least three months while further proceedings are carried out.

The funeral of Miss Grender will be held on Wednesday at St John’s Church, Maindee, at 1pm followed by cremation at Gwent Crematorium.

Miss Grender’s unborn child will also be remembered at the service.

Boyfriend pays emotional tribute

MISS Grender's boyfriend Ryan Mayes, 18, placed an emotional tribute to her and their unborn child in yesterday's Argus. It read:

My love for you runs so deep,
it is hard for me to sleep.
I miss you both so much and I know all our plans and hopes are now in my dreams.
I never thought the Lord would take you both away from me so soon.

Just a thought of you makes me cry,
I never had a chance to say goodbye.
I always smell your scent,
it makes me think of all the times we’ve spent.

So many things I never got to say Babe,
the day God took you a part of me died too.
But now I have to let you rest although my world’s a mess.
I miss you both and will love you ‘til the day I die.

Your heartbroken boyfriend Ryan XXX