Colleen Westlake, 48, was found dead at Pines Road, Chelmsford, on 17 April. Her husband was also discovered seriously injured.
Craig Bird, 31, of no fixed abode, has been charged with her murder and the attempted murder of 59-year-old Mr Westlake.
Mr Bird has been remanded in custody until 29 June when he will appear at Chelmsford Crown Court.
The inquest heard police were called to Pines Road in the early hours after reports of an assault and found Mrs Westlake unresponsive.
The cause of death was blunt force head trauma and compression to the neck.
A date for a full inquest has not yet been set.
A woman died of blunt force trauma and strangulation, an inquest has heard.