An inquest into the death of a Norfolk county councillor at his village home opened today at the coroner's court in Norwich.
The body of Derek Blake, 78, was found on the drive of his home at Bergh Apton near Loddon by a worker from the Anglia Water board on June 23 at approximately 6.40am.
The inquest heard how Mr Blake was found with severe head injuries with a shot gun laying next to him.
Mr Blake had served on South Norfolk Council for more than a decade, was this year elected to the county council for the first time, as member for Loddon division, and had also been chairman of Bergh Apton Parish Council since 2011. Only hours before his death, he had signed off the annual accounts for Bergh Apton council on Monday night.
Norfolk police, are not treating the incident as suspicious.
The inquest has been adjourned until January 5, 2016.
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