Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox died in the ambulance of multiple stab and gunshot wounds after she was attacked in the street, an inquest heard today.

The mother-of-two's body was released for the funeral during the five-minute hearing at Bradford Coroner's Court this morning.

Her family had chosen not to be at the brief hearing which Coroner Martin Fleming said was understandable. Present in court was Detective Superintendent Nick Wallen from the Homicide and Major Inquiry Team and a family liaison officer.

The inquest, which was adjourned, heard how the MP was declared dead at 1.48pm on June 16 in an ambulance in Birstall's Market Street where the attack happenend. 

Despite the efforts of paramedics and a number of emergency doctors, who had moved her from the road where she had been lying, she could not be saved, said Det Supt Wallen.

He told the inquest how police and ambulance were initially alerted by a number of emergency calls from Market Street saying that a man armed with a knife and a gun had attacked and seriously injured a man and a woman.

Emergency serices first found a man being tended to by members of the public. He had a stab wound to his stomach, he said and added: "They also found a woman lying in the road. It was immediately clear how serious her injuries were. People at the scene informed officers the woman was Jo Cox Member of Parliament for Batley and Spen." 

A forensic post mortem found Mrs Cox had died from multiple stab and gun shot wounds. She was officially identified by her sister Kim Leadbetter, the inquest heard.

Det Supt Wallen said the defence team for Birstall-man Thomas Mair, 52, who has been charged with her murder and goes on trial in November, had not requested a second forensic post mortem.

Mr Fleming said: "That allows me to release her body so that the family can get on with the funeral arrangements."

He then adjourned the inquest until the court proceedings are complete.

Last night, vote counting venues across the Bradford district paused temporarily last night to hold a one minute's silence in memory of the MP.

Counters at the Richard Dunn Sports Centre and Keighley Leisure Centre downed their papers at 11.30pm to remember her.
The pause for reflection supported the same silences that were held in Kirklees at the same time.