A convicted paedophile found strangled alongside his daughter could have been lying dead for four days before police found his body, an inquest heard.
And his daughter could have been lying next to him for two days before police made the gruesome discovery, an inquest heard.
Noel Brown, 69, was found dead alongside daughter Marie, 41, at his home in Deptford, south-east London, the early hours of last Monday.
It has been claimed his daughter Marie could have been strangled after stumbling in on the killer attempting to chop up her father when she went to check on him after not hearing from him.
Police broke into the flat early last Monday and found their bodies.
Noel Brown, 69, was found dead alongside daughter Marie, 41, at his home in Deptford, south-east London, the early hours of last Monday – but they have been there for days
Forensics scouring the scene of the gruesome double murder have been seen handling what is believed to be a knife
Post-mortem examinations revealed both had been strangled by ‘compression of the neck’.
At Southwark Coroners Court today an inquest into the deaths was opened and adjourned which heard Noel could have died as early as November 30 – four days before he was found on December 4.
Police discovered the nursery worker (pictured) and her father after receiving a tip-off from a concerned member of public
DI Helen Rance, of the Met Police’s Serious Crime Command investigating the case told the court Noel’s time of death is between November 30 and December 4.
Crèche worker Marie’s time of death was between December 2 and December 4.
Both bodies were identified by their passports, the court heard.
DI Rance said: ‘Police were called on Monday December 4. When they arrived they found the deceased bodies of Noel Brown and Marie Brown.
‘The time of death for Mr Brown is between November 30 and December 4. For Marie Brown it is December 2 and December 4.’
Senior Coroner Andrew Harris said: ‘A provisional cause of death has been given as neck compression.
‘I understand from the autopsy report that the deaths are to be treated as suspicious and the circumstances are such that I open an inquest.
‘These two persons deaths are not natural and an investigation has been opened.
Mr Brown (left) was a regular in a local bookmakers but officers said his recent big win was not related. His daughter (right) went to the home after getting concerned
A police forensic officer searching wheelie bins at the scene as the area has been taped off
‘As somebody may be charged with a homicide offence I suspended my investigation for the police to carry out their enquiries.’
The court heard no one is in custody over the killings.
Noel was jailed for eight years in 1999 for abusing two girls and was still on the sex offenders’ register at the time of the killing.
One line of enquiry being explored by detectives is that Brown was targeted by anti-paedophile vigilantes.
Brown, who was born in Jamaica, was jailed at the Old Bailey in 1999 for abusing two girls and was released from jail in 2004.
Scotland Yard said there were no signs of a forced entry, suggesting the suspects were known to Noel and Marie disturbed them.
Rumours suggested that Mr Brown, known to frequent local betting shops in Deptford, south east London, may have been targeted after landing a big win.
But detectives say there is ‘no evidence’ to suggest that was the case.