Can you ask questions at an inquest?
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Can you ask questions at an inquest?
An inquest is held in public and is a formal process. Unlike a criminal court case, there is no prosecution and defence. If you are called as a witness, the Coroner may ask you to read through your statement, or may take you through the statement in court, and you may be asked questions.
Who can request a coroner’s inquest?
The family of the deceased can request that an Inquest take place and, in some instances, an Inquest must be conducted. A Coronial Inquest will be held when a person’s death or suspected death is a reportable death or a medical practitioner has not given a certificate as to the cause of death.
Who has to attend a coroner’s inquest?
Coroners decide who should give evidence as a witness, and witnesses are required by law to attend. Anyone who believes that they may have information that may help can offer to give evidence by informing the coroner. If anyone believes a particular witness should attend, they should inform the coroner.
Who gives evidence at an inquest?
The inquest is an inquisitorial process rather than an adversarial one; this means that it is an investigation not a trial with contested opponents. The Coroner and/or Jury will hear evidence from live witnesses who attend at court and also may be read witness statements from witnesses who are not present.
Why would a coroner request an inquest?
The Coroner will request a post mortem to be carried out by a pathologist to determine the cause of death. An inquest will be held if the cause of death remains unknown after the initial examination, or there is reason to suspect the death was violent or unnatural, or the deceased died in prison.
Do I have to attend an inquest?
The inquest is held in open court, which means that any member of the public may attend, as well as the media. Witnesses (for example a doctor, police officer or eyewitnesses) may be asked to attend to give evidence. The coroner decides who to call.
What is the purpose of inquest proceedings?
An inquest is an informal and summary investigation conducted by the public prosecutor in a criminal case involving persons arrested and detained without the benefit of a warrant of arrest issued by the court for the purpose of determining whether said persons should remain under custody and correspondingly be charged …
How long does an inquest take?
Some inquests only take a few hours, but others can take several days or weeks. Article 2 inquests may take longer. The Chief Coroner for England and Wales is responsible for preventing delays. If an inquest investigation takes longer than 12 months, it has to be reported to the Chief Coroner.
How important is an inquest?
Importance of an inquest The Coroner’s role is not to apportion blame but to investigate the circumstances and causes of a death. When a death has occurred following medical treatment the Coroner will often call the doctors and nurses involved to Court as witnesses.
What are inquest proceedings?
An inquest proceeding is an informal and summary investigation conducted by a public prosecutor. in criminal cases involving persons arrested and detained without the benefit of warrant of arrest issued. by the Court for the purpose of determining whether or not these persons should remain under the.
What happens after an inquest?
At the end of the inquest, the coroner will give his/her conclusion and this will appear on the final death certificate. The death can then be officially registered. The conclusion cannot (in most circumstances) include any suggestion of blame.
What is the difference between preliminary investigation and inquest proceedings?
The preliminary investigation entails a longer route. This affords both complainant and respondent chances to refute each other. When the complaint, via an affidavit, is filed, respondent is given an opportunity to file his counter-affidavit. In the inquest however, respondent is already in custody.
What does inquest mean in law?
An inquest is basically a judicial inquiry. Normally, a coroner and/or jury requests an inquest regarding the cause of the death of an individual who was just killed or suddenly died under mysterious or other suspicious circumstances, including but not limited to prison.
Do all deaths have an inquest?
A coroner must hold an inquest if: the cause of death is still unknown. the person might have died a violent or unnatural death. the person might have died in prison or police custody.
Can you get a copy of an inquest report?
Either the coroner will provide a copy of the recording, or will allow “inspection” (where you are given an appointment to attend the coroner’s office to listen to the recording.) The coroner can charge for providing a copy of the recording after the inquest. The coroner can charge a fee for producing a transcript.
