A major update has been announced in a murder investigation launched after a man was found dead in a Midlands flat late last year.
Discovery and Emergency Response
Stephen Lovatt, aged 55, was discovered unresponsive inside a flat off Linfield Road in the Hanley area of Stoke-on-Trent. The alarm was raised at 9.30pm on November 12, 2025. Despite the swift dispatch of two ambulances to the scene, paramedics were unable to save him and he was pronounced dead.
Police activity quickly centred on Lindop Court in the immediate aftermath. The following day, forensic officers were seen conducting examinations at the location. As part of the investigation, a phone box on nearby Bucknall New Road was covered with blue sheeting.
Murder Charge and Forthcoming Inquest
Staffordshire Police confirmed they have since charged 56-year-old Barry Johnson with murder. Johnson, who had been living in Hanley, has already made an initial appearance at the North Staffordshire Justice Centre.
In a significant development, it has now been confirmed that an inquest into Mr Lovatt's death will open this month. The proceedings are scheduled to begin at 9.30am on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at Swann House in Stoke.
Ongoing Legal Process
The opening of the inquest represents a formal step in the legal process to establish the circumstances surrounding the death. It will run concurrently with the ongoing criminal case brought by the Crown Prosecution Service against the accused.
Staffordshire Police's investigation into the tragic incident remains active, with the inquest likely to hear initial evidence gathered by officers. The community in Hanley continues to await further developments in both the coroner's court and the criminal justice proceedings.
