AN INQUEST has been opened into the death of Knaresborough man Mark Berney.

Mr Berney, 44, was pronounced dead after he was found with serious stab wounds at Whipley Bank, near Ripley, last Sunday, August 3.

An inquest was opened and adjourned yesterday by assistant coroner Geoff Fell.

Mr Fell said: “The facts before me are that the emergency services were called at 9pm on Sunday 3, August 2014, to a location on Whipley Bank, Ripley.

On arrival they found the body of Mark Leslie John Berney, aged 44, from Knaresborough, who had suffered serious stab wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.

“A Harrogate man, Oktay Kilic, aged 40, appeared at Leeds crown court last week charged with Mr Berney’s murder.”