THE mother of Whitchurch vineyard owner Charles Cunningham has spoken of her frustration at trying to find out the truth about her son's death.

The body of the 47-year-old Wooldings Vineyard boss was found on March 28 at the bottom of a ravine on an Indonesian island.

Mr Cunningham had disappeared during a backpacking holiday around the world.

Since then, his friends and family have been told little about how or why he was killed.

Speaking after an inquest into his death was adjourned in Basingstoke this week, his mother Daphne said: "We're feeling frustrated. I think we are owed some answers. All along we've had to prod and prod, with no success.

"We've got to get to the bottom of it - we owe it to Charles." She added: "It's been a terrible strain and it's so unsatisfying because we aren't being told anything."

At the inquest on Monday, evidence was heard from consultant pathologist Dr Roger Ainsworth, who carried out a postmortem examination on Mr Cunningham at Basingstoke hospital more than three months after his buried body was discovered.

He revealed that Mr Cunningham had been hit on the front of the head by what looked like a weapon, fracturing his skull and causing his death.

He said he also found another injury, possibly a stab wound, to his stomach.

During the proceedings, Dr Ainsworth was shown a copy of a post mortem examination carried out in Bali, which also referred to a stomach wound indicating Charles had been assaulted rather than fallen.

Coroner Andrew Bradley told the family he had very few answers for them because he could only give scientific evidence surrounding his death.

"As far as I'm aware, there is an outstanding formal investigation in Bali, which has not been completed," he said.

"From the evidence, there is no doubt Charles was unlawfully killed."

The inquest was adjourned to allow more time for information to come in from Bali.

A review will take place on January 14.