Understanding the Coroners Inquest Process

When someone dies, there are certain situations whereby an appointed individual must investigate the circumstances surrounding the death. In England and Wales, this person is a coroner. A coroner typically carries out an investigation if the circumstances surrounding the death are unknown or suspicious.

The coroner will decide if an inquest is needed in order to answer four critical questions—who the deceased was, where and when they died and, most importantly for their family, how they died.

If you’ve lost a loved one and have unanswered questions surrounding their death, the following guide to inquests will help you determine if you have the right to request an inquest and take you through the key stages of the inquest process. If you have any additional questions not covered in this guide, please get in touch with our inquests solicitors, who will be happy to help.

What is an inquest?

An inquest is a formal public fact-finding inquiry conducted by a coroner, designed to establish where, when and how someone died.

The purpose of the inquest is to discover the facts of the death; this means that the coroner (or jury) cannot find a person or organisation criminally responsible for the death. However, if evidence is found that suggests someone may be to blame for the death, the coroner can pass all the evidence gathered to the police or Crown Prosecution Service. As a result, the findings of an inquest may profoundly influence the nature of any criminal investigation or subsequent prosecution.

Inquests also play a fundamental role in the process of holding people or organisations responsible for deaths. They may also significantly impact civil or disciplinary proceedings that follow.

Inquests are conducted in a formal manner. Statements and legal arguments are prepared, and evidence can be called from witnesses. The law and procedure relating to inquests is complex and can be overwhelming, frustrating and confusing.

Inquests are particularly distressing for those who have lost a loved one or who have been involved in a traumatic incident that has led to a death.

What is the role of an ‘interested person’ in an inquest?

The Coroners and Justice Act 2009 defines an ‘interested person’ in detail, but broadly, the term refers to someone who has the legal right to actively participate in the inquest proceedings; this can be someone who had some form of relationship with the deceased, was somehow involved in the circumstances surrounding the death or simply at the coroner’s discretion.

Those involved in an inquest have important rights allowing them to fully take part and help with the coroner’s investigation. These include:

• receiving copies of relevant documents by the coroner, including any the coroner deems relevant to the inquest
• being notified by the coroner about crucial aspects of post-mortem or toxicology analysis
• the ability to question witnesses at the inquest hearing
• seeing written evidence and being allowed to object to it being used during the inquest hearing

Though immediate family can be directly involved in an inquest hearing, this can cause issues, such as instances where there is animosity and division amongst family members, where the family is disinterested in the inquest and attempts to stop it from taking place or even where the deceased has no known family.

When is an inquest needed?

A coroner typically performs an inquest in cases where:

• The cause of death is still unknown following post-mortem
• A death was sudden, unnatural or violent
• A death occurred in police custody or prison

There is an exception to the rule, however—if you are seeking compensation for an injury whereby the case involves someone who died from an industrial disease, like asbestos exposure, for example, the coroner might hold a ‘read-only’ inquest, which is usually less formal and no one else will attend. The coroner will assess medical reports before the inquest and consider the information when delivering the verdict.

How is an inquest funded?

There are several options available in terms of funding if you require specialist legal representation in an inquest. Although Legal Aid funding is not typically available for representation at inquests (though it can be provided in exceptional cases), certain insurance policies, including some home or motor insurance policies, may cover the cost of inquest proceedings. Alternatively, a union or professional organisation may offer assistance.

Privately funded representation is highly recommended for inquests, as a specialist lawyer can guide you through the entire process, providing you with the professional advice and support you will undoubtedly need to get through this challenging time. Seek a solicitor who can offer competitive rates and agree to a fixed fee for their advice, preparation for the inquest and legal representation during the proceedings.

What happens during an inquest?

During an inquest, the coroner conducts a thorough investigation to determine the facts surrounding a death, selecting witnesses, including medical professionals, police officers and anyone else with relevant information, to provide evidence.

Interested persons, including family members and legal representatives, can ask questions during the inquest if the coroner permits, allowing for a comprehensive examination of the circumstances and ensuring all relevant details are considered.

If key witnesses are unavailable or the coroner is dissatisfied with the information provided, the inquest may be postponed to a later date; this adjournment can also occur if an ongoing police investigation is taking place into a possible crime.

The purpose of an inquest is to establish the facts of the case, not to assign blame, whilst providing transparency and helping to identify any lessons that can be learned to prevent future deaths of a similar nature.

What are the key stages of an inquest?

1. Consultation with an inquest lawyer: A specialised lawyer can guide you through the inquest process step by step. We recommend booking an initial consultation promptly. During this appointment, an inquest lawyer will discuss funding options, understand the circumstances leading to your loved one’s death, address any concerns you have, and identify the coroner and any other interested parties involved.
2. Contacting the coroner and any interested persons: Your instructed lawyer will contact the relevant Coroner’s Court, informing them of their instruction and requesting copies of any relevant documents and witness statements gathered through their own investigation. Your solicitor will also ask the coroner to inform them of any relevant dates of future hearings and contact the other interested persons so they are aware of legal involvement.
3. Preparation of a witness statement and pen portrait: The appointed solicitor will then assist you in preparing a witness statement for the inquest, dealing with the deceased’s background and any knowledge you have about the circumstances leading up to the death. They will also include any documents you may have in your possession that you deem relevant to the death, including notes, letters and emails, as well as a pen portrait—a one-to-two page document detailing who the deceased was, their personality, any happy memories you have and what they meant to you—for the attention of the court.
4. Preparation for pre-inquest review hearing: Once the coroner has received all relevant documents and statements, they might list a pre-inquest review hearing to determine numerous matters, including what the inquest will examine, what further documents the legal representative might need, which witnesses will provide evidence, whether an expert and jury is required and when the inquest may be listed.
5. Pre-inquest review hearing: Pre-inquest interview hearings take place in a Coroner’s Court. Here, any interested persons will be required to attend with their own legal representative. The hearing is essentially a case management hearing to ensure the investigation has reached the stage whereby the final inquest can take place.
6. Conference: At this stage of the process, you will meet with your appointed solicitor (as well as a barrister if instructed) to discuss any issues of concern, what may arise from the evidence and how the inquest will likely proceed and conclude.
7. The inquest: The inquest will typically take place in the Coroner’s Court, its length of time varying depending on issues explored, whether a jury is present and the number of witnesses listed to provide evidence. The court will hear evidence from the various witnesses, after which the legal representatives will make submissions suggesting what conclusions can be recorded on the Record of Inquest.

What verdicts can the coroner make?

The coroner or jury determines the verdict at the end of the inquest. Likely verdicts that may be considered include:

• Natural causes
• Suicide
• Unlawful killing
• Accident or misadventure
• Industrial disease
• Want of attention at birth
• Stillbirth
• Open verdict (when there is insufficient evidence to determine how the death occurred, the case remains open in case further evidence is revealed)

Although an inquest’s verdict is not a deciding factor in civil issues, its evidence can strongly influence any civil claim’s outcome. All evidence should be recorded, and the interested parties can request a transcript of the evidence from the coroner in the form of a tape, disc or the original transcript (though there may be a charge to obtain a copy).

Once the coroner or jury reaches a verdict, the coroner will issue the final death certificate so that relatives can officially register the death.

Can inquests help to prevent future deaths?

When an inquest concludes, the coroner has the authority to write a report if the evidence indicates that further avoidable deaths might occur under similar circumstances. In this report, known as a Preventing Future Deaths report, the coroner can suggest preventative measures that should be implemented to reduce future risks; this action is typical in workplace deaths.

The coroner will send the report to the relevant person or authority who can take the necessary actions outlined in the document. By identifying potential hazards and recommending improvements, inquests, therefore, play a crucial role in enhancing safety and preventing future tragedies.