A “DEVOTED” mother who was stabbed in her Westcliff home could have died of a brain injury, it has been revealed.

Forensic pathologists carrying out the post mortem of 26-year-old Leanne Meecham have identified the preliminary cause of her death.

Ms Meecham died tragically on Thursday after being found a week earlier in her flat in Park Street, Westcliff, suffering stab wounds to her neck and heart.

She was airlifted the Royal London Hospital where she was placed in a medically-induced coma due to her critical condition but sadly succumbed to her injuries, leaving behind a three-year-old child.

It has now been determined that the young mother died of a brain injury which was the result of a cardiac arrest due to a stab wound to her throat.

An inquest into her death is due to be opened on Tuesday February 25 in Chelmsford when she is also expected to be formally identified by Her Majesty’s coroner.

Ex-partner Simon Meecham, 42, from Shoebury has been charged with Leanne’s murder.

He appeared before Chelmsford Magistrates Court yesterday and is currently remanded in custody before appearing at Chelmsford Crown Court tomorrow.