A British coroner will definitely hold an inquest into the death in Bermuda of missing body parts victim Norman Palmer.

The inquiry into how the 57-year-old died at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital on April 12, 2008, is expected to take place in May or June next year in Somerset, England — where Mr. Palmer was originally from.

The hearing may delve into why many of his organs and tissues were found to be missing after his body was flown to Britain for cremation and have never been returned to his family.

Ben Batley, coroner's officer for East Somerset, told The Royal Gazette: "There will be an inquest here at sometime in the future."

Asked for further details of a pre-inquest hearing which recently took place, he said: "Unfortunately legislation here does not allow reporting of pre-inquest considerations."

Mr. Palmer's sister Marion Bishop said last night: "I'm happy they are having it — the inquest in the UK. I'm delighted about that. We all are."

Coroner Khamisi Tokunbo recorded a verdict of death by natural causes contributed to by self-neglect after an inquest here last year. Mr. Palmer's family later appealed the decision in the Supreme Court but it was upheld by a judge.

Mr. Palmer, who ran his own excavating business, died despite the efforts of three emergency room doctors at KEMH after he got into breathing difficulties at his Paget home and was taken there by ambulance.