Stabbed teacher Ann Maguire died from "shock and haemorrhage", inquest hears

The 61-year-old was attacked in front of a classroom full of pupils during a Spanish lesson at the school she had worked at for more than 40 years.

Today, at the opening of the inquest into her death, detective chief inspector Nick Wallen, of West Yorkshire Police, said the teacher suffered a number of stab wounds. 

He added that one to her neck, that severed her major vein, was the fatal injury.

Mr Wallen gave the only evidence at the seven-minute-long hearing at Leeds Coroners Court today.

He told coroner David Hinchliff that the emergency services were called to Corpus Christi at 11.49am on the morning of April 28.

"They were directed to the top floor modern languages department where paramedics initially attended to Mrs Ann Maguire - a teacher at the school - who was very seriously injured having been stabbed," the officer said.

"Mrs Maguire was taken by ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary for emergency treatment.

"Sadly, she did not survive her injuries and her death was pronounced at 1.10pm."

He told the court that Home Office pathologist Brian Roger conducted a forensic post-mortem examination on the same day at Pinderfields Hospital, in Wakefield.

"Dr Rogers established Mrs Maguire's cause of death as shock and haemorrhage," Mr Wallen told the coroner.

"Although there were a number of stab wounds, a stab wound to her neck had severed her jugular vein and was the fatal injury." 

He said a second post-mortem examination came to the same conclusion.

Mr Hinchliff heard Mrs Maguire's body was identified by her husband, Don.

He issued a burial order and released the teacher's body so a funeral can now take place.

The coroner also asked a police family liaison officer present in court to pass his condolences on to Mrs Maguire's family.

Mr Hinchliff adjourned the inquest to a date to be fixed.

None of Mrs Maguire's family were in court today.

Mrs Maguire worked at Corpus Christi, in the Halton Moor area of Leeds, for more than 40 years.

She was due to retire in September and, last year, the school celebrated her four decades of service. Headteacher Steve Mort has said she was the "mother of the school".

Tributes to the teacher have flooded in from around the world and a 100-yards-long collection of flowers, messages, photographs and other mementos stretched from the gates of Corpus Christi to the church next door.

She lived in the Moortown area of Leeds with her husband, who is a landscape gardener and former teacher. 

She had two grown-up daughters and two nephews whom she brought up as her own sons after the death of her sister nearly 30 years ago.

A 15-year-old boy has appeared in court accused of murdering Mrs Maguire. 

He is remanded in custody and is due to go on trial later this year.