Inquest begins for murder suspect shot dead in Holland

A Liverpool man who was suspected of the gun murder of couple nearly a decade ago has been shot dead in the Netherlands.

Paul Parker, 52, who was reportedly wanted in connection over the killings of Pieter Hoovers and his wife Tae in Amsterdam in 2017, died in Heerhugowaard in North Holland on 1 June.

Opening his inquest at Bootle Town Hall, the senior coroner for Sefton, St Helens and Knowsley, Anita Bhardwaj, said: "I understand that whilst he was in the Netherlands, Paul was believed to have been involved in an altercation involving weapons which has resulted in his death."

Ms Bhardwaj adjourned the inquest to 18 December, pending the outcome of any investigation in the Netherlands.

The provisional cause of death provided by Dutch authorities was a gunshot wound, the coroner's court was told.

Earlier this month, police in the Netherlands said two men were arrested following the "shooting and stabbing incident" at a business premises.

The inquest opening, which lasted only a few minutes, heard Parker was born in Liverpool but was listed as of no fixed abode as no address was given to the coroner.

He had been identified by Merseyside Police using fingerprints, Bhardwaj said.

No family members were in attendance for the inquest opening, but they had been made aware of the hearing, the coroner's court heard.

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