An elderly woman was found dead in a chest freezer at her home, an inquest heard.
Retired company secretary Sylvia Phillips, who died in her 80s, was discovered by police after they attended a welfare check at her seaside property in Porthcawl.
Her son, company director Christopher Phillips, 60, is accused of preventing Sylvia’s burial and fraudulently using her bank account.
Coroner’s officer Joanne Webb said: ‘Police received a phone call from a GP practice requesting a welfare check on an elderly patient.
‘During the search of the property they located the body of a female believed to be Sylvia Phillips in a chest freezer.’ Criminal investigations are ‘ongoing’, the inquest was told.
Mrs Phillips was born in Gloucester in March 1936, but it is not known exactly when she died.
‘A post mortem examination was carried out by Dr Stephen Leadbeatter at the University Hospital of Wales on 2nd March’, Ms Webb said.
Her 60-year-old son, company director Christopher Phillips, is facing charges for allegedly preventing his mother’s burial and carrying out a series of fraudulent transactions using her bank account
Retired company secretary Sylvia Phillips – who died in her 80s – was discovered by police after they attended a welfare check at her seaside property
‘The pathologist has provided a provisional cause of death as 1a) awaiting further investigations.’
Coroner Graeme Hughes adjourned the hearing for a date to be fixed.
Police descended on a quiet cul-de-sac in Poplar Crescent, Porthcawl, in February this year following concerns about her welfare.
Phillips appeared at Cardiff Crown Court last month, charged with preventing a lawful and decent burial and fraud by false representation.
Phillips spoke to confirm his name, date of birth, and address and was told he could not enter a plea as prosecution documents had not been finalised.
Judge Vanessa Francis told him: ‘I’m not asking you to enter pleas today as I think there is more everyone needs to know and understand about this case.’
She said that Phillips’ legal team needed to know ‘exactly what you are accused of doing.’
She added: ‘It would not be just for me to insist on pleas being taken today when the way in which the case is being put is so unclear.’
Phillips was further remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing next month.
As he left the court, he said ‘thank you’ to the judge.
At the time of the investigation, a force spokesman said: ‘South Wales Police attended an address on Poplar Crescent, Porthcawl at 1.45pm on Tuesday, February 17, after a call concerning the welfare of a woman.
‘A woman in her 80s from Porthcawl was found dead within the property. Investigations into the death are ongoing.’
