The inquest into the death of Graham Trinder has been opened by the county’s coroner.

The London-born 57-year-old is said to have been shot dead by an armed police officer outside his home in Rodbourne earlier this month.

Opening Mr Trinder’s inquest in Salisbury on Tuesday afternoon, Senior Coroner for Wiltshire David Ridley said a pathologist had identified the preliminary cause of death as a gunshot wound to the chest, although investigators are awaiting further tests.

During the short hearing, Mr Ridley said police had been called in the early hours of Sunday, November 8, to reports of a disturbance in Summers Street. Among those called to the scene was a firearms officer.

“It is understood that the officer confronted Graham, who it is alleged was in possession of a firearm,” the coroner said.

“Graham was sadly struck fatally in the chest. His death was confirmed at the scene at 2.55 that morning by an attending critical care team member.”

Mr Trinder’s body had been identified at a courthouse mortuary near Bristol by a friend, the court heard.

Mr Ridley said: “The matter remains under investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct who take primacy in such matters, Wiltshire Police having voluntarily referred the matter to the IOPC.”

He added: “We have a preliminary report from the pathologist and he has consented to the release of the body, as have the IOPC.”

The coroner ordered that the Mr Trinder’s body could be released to his family. The case was adjourned for a pre-inquest review hearing on April 15, 2021.