ALLEGED murder victim Geoffrey Reed died of multiple blunt force injuries, an inquest has revealed.

Forensic pathologist Dr Basil Purdue revealed the cause of the 57-year-old’s death after carrying out a post mortem examination, district coroner Sheriff Payne was told.

Mr Reed’s body was discovered in woodland off Huntick Road, Lytchett Matravers, north of Poole, by police officers acting on information received, the coroner heard.

Coroner’s officer Mike Humphries told the inquest in Bournemouth that Mr Reed, of Cecil Road, Boscombe, was born in Doncaster in September 1954.

The inquest was adjourned until a date to be fixed.

Yesterday three men accused of murdering Mr Reed made their first appearance at crown court.

Stuart Raymond Wareham, 25, of Cecil Road, Benjamin Henry Walter, 21, of no fixed address and Lee Raymond Wareham, 32, also of no fixed address, appeared at Winchester Crown Court for a brief preliminary hearing.

They are jointly charged with the murder of Mr Reed in Bournemouth which took place between Wednesday June 6 and Thursday June 14.

The three defendants spoke only yesterday to confirm their name to the court.

Judge Keith Cutler remanded all three defendants in custody and told them their case would be adjourned until September 7 when a plea and case management hearing will take place.