The Birmingham coroner has ordered a second postmortem examination to be carried out on a teenager who was shot dead outside a hairdressing salon following a New Years' party.

Aidan Cotter made the decision after speaking to the parents of 18-year-old Charlene Ellis.

Charlene's mother, Beverley Thomas, briefly took the stand at a resumed inquest into her daughter's death.

She requested a second postmortem after hearing how a future murder trial may be affected by not holding a second examination.

Body released

Arthur Ellis, father of the art student, who was also present, did not object.

Mr Cotter also ordered Charlene's body to be released to her family as soon as the second examination, by a Home Office pathologist, was completed.

The inquest into Charlene's death has now been adjourned indefinitely.

Charlene and her friend Letisha Shakespeare, 17, were hit by a hail of bullets outside a hairdressing salon in the Aston area of Birmingham in the early hours of 2 January.

Charlene's twin sister, Sophie, and cousin Cheryl Shaw, 17, were injured.

On Wednesday, Detective superintendent Dave Mirfield, who is leading the murder inquiry, said one of the men they are looking for in connection to the shootings may have fled abroad.

He also issued a fresh appeal for witnesses.