THE inquest into the deaths of three generations of a family killed in a Cwmbran fire was officially opened yesterday.

Helen Kimberley Buckley, known as Kim, 46, her daughter, Kayleigh Marie Buckley, 17, and six-monthold granddaughter, Kimberley Faith Maddison Buckley, all died in the blaze at their home at 15 Tillsland, Coed Eva, during the early hours of September 18.

Carl Anthony Mills, 28, of no fixed address, is charged with their murders.

Coroner’s officer Kenneth Le Prevost said at Gwent Coroner’s Office, Newport, that the fire service and police were called to the house fire on September 18.

After the fire had been put out the three bodies were recovered and were formally identified by a family member.

A post-mortem examination on the bodies, which was carried out by Dr Stephen Leadbeater at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, found that the cause of death for each was exposure to fire and “fire effluents”.

Following police investigation, Mills was charged with three counts of murder.

The Argus previously reported that Mills was remanded in custody following a court hearing and is due to appear at Cardiff Crown Court on December 17 for a plea and case management hearing.

Gwent coroner David Bowen adjourned the inquest for six months to allow criminal proceedings to take place. He said the adjournment could be longer than this, though, depending on the outcome of those proceedings.

He gave permission for the bodies to be released to the family for the funerals to take place.