An inquest has commenced to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of a 16-year-old girl whose body was discovered near John Hughes.

According to reports the inquest into the passing of Yenifer Brigde was convened on Tuesday at a local funeral home.

Magistrate Ngaio Emanuel of District B is presiding over the inquest. The first step involved family members identifying the young woman’s body in the presence of jurors and the coroner.

The role of the coroner is to establish ‘findings of fact’ regarding the identity of the deceased, the time and place of death, and the medical cause of death, rather than to deliver a ‘verdict’.

As part of the inquest, a post mortem examination will be conducted to determine the cause of death.

It is strongly suspected that the young woman met a violent death at the hands of an unknown person or persons, as the police have stated that the investigation is ongoing.

Bridge’s body was found on June 28, and the police are treating the case as a possible abduction, rape, and murder.

She was the mother of a two-year-old toddler who was discovered wandering on Jonas Road the night before her body was found.