A WOMAN killed by a man believed to be her estranged husband was shot in the back, an inquest heard.

Caroline Parry, 46, was found alongside Christopher Parry, 49, in the middle of a Newport street at 8.43am on August 8 after neighbours reported hearing gunshots.

Gwent Police were called to Willenhall Street in Lliswerry where they found Mrs Parry's body with gunshot wounds to her back, said Coroner's officer David Arnold.

A man was in close proximity with gunshot wounds to his face, he said, and a shotgun and spent ammunition were recovered from the scene.

Last week police officers recovered three firearms from a house in Croesyceiliog, Cwmbran, legally belonging to Mr Parry.

A post-mortem examination carried out by Home Office pathologist Dr Richard Jones found the cause of Mrs Parry's death was shotgun wounds to the back of the chest.

Mr Arnold said the incident is subject to an ongoing enquiry by Gwent Police.

Gwent coroner David Bowen said he was satisfied with the identification of the body and that a funeral could go ahead.

He adjourned the case for three months or until the conclusion of the police investigation.

The case has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) who will investigate Gwent Police's contact with the estranged couple as their relationship problems had been known to officers.

Mr Parry remains at Newport's Royal Gwent hospital in a stable condition. Detectives are continuing to visit and speak to potential witnesses and police have said Mr Parry will be spoken to as part of the inquiry should his medical condition improve.

If anyone has any information about the incident, call 101 and quote log 97 of 08/08/13.