A post mortem has been unable to establish how a jeweller died suddenly at his home in Perthshire.
A murder probe was launched by police after 49-year-old Alan Gardner was found dead at his Balbeggie property in April.
A 30-year-old man has been charged with killing Mr Gardner and is awaiting trial.
However, The Courier can today reveal that pathologists have been unable to determine the reason for the father-of-one’s death.
According to his recently released death certificate, the cause has been recorded as “currently unascertained (pending further investigation)”.
It does not state when Mr Gardner died, although confirms he was found dead at 8.25pm on April 23.
The certificate was signed by a police family liaison officer.
Nikola Zhulev, from Perth, has appeared at Perth Sheriff Court accused of murdering divorced Mr Gardner at his Croft Park home sometime between April 19 and April 23.
It is alleged that he assaulted Mr Gardner by striking him on the head with a metal pan, or another item, or by other means unknown to the prosecutor.
It is also alleged that Zhulev bound Mr Gardner’s ankles with tape, then covered and wrapped his body in a duvet, having murdered him.
He has further been charged with buying a spade at Homebase, St Catherine’s Retail Park, Perth, and digging a hole in the ground of the wooded area with the intention of concealing Mr Gardner’s body.
Zhulev has also appeared on a further petition alleging he stole items from Mr Gardner’s home and pawned them for cash, as well as using a credit card to buy takeaway food.
He is accused of using a key to break in to Mr Gardner’s home between April 20 and 24 and stole a car key, a quantity of jewellery, a credit card and a number of cameras.
He is alleged to have stolen Mr Gardner’s Toyota Rav 4 on April 20 and, on the same date, tried to pawn items of stolen jewellery at the Money Shop, County Place, Perth, to obtain money by fraud.
Zhulev, of South Street, has appeared on petition in connection with both indictments but has not tendered a plea.
A date for his next court appearance has yet to be set.
Mr Gardner had moved to Perthshire around six years ago with his wife Jennifer, a human resources manager for a logistics company, and their daughter, but the couple separated in 2013.