Body found by chance in Smethwick canal
A woman's body was found in a canal in Smethwick after clothing became caught in the propeller of a boat, an inquest heard.
Shareen Liaqat, aged 20, of Legge Street in West Bromwich, was discovered in the canal on January 27.
Detective Inspector James Munro told an inquest opening at Smethwick Council House that she had been reported as a 'high risk missing person' on January 26.
He said Mrs Liaqat had 'carried out research on her laptop prior to her disappearance' which led officers to rate her as high risk after they were called by her family.
Officers carried out searches of the canal near Smethwick Galton Bridge on the night of January 26 but were forced to return the next morning due to darkness making searching difficult.
At 3.26pm the next day police received a call from a canal worker who had found clothing in the propeller of his boat.
A post-mortem found the cause of death to be consistent with drowning and Mrs Liaqat also had a broken nose.
Black Country coroner Mr Zafar Siddique adjourned the inquest for a full hearing on April 14.
He said: "This was an absolutely tragic loss of a young woman's life."
