coroners

Question 1

when were coroners formally established?

Answer 1

1194

Question 2

what was a coroner?

Answer 2

initially a tax investigator, developed into investigator of anything that may impact the crown

buried reassure, unexplained deaths, wreaks, investigating the alarmingly frequent deaths of normans

Question 3

development of coroners

Answer 3

1836 - first births and deaths registration act

Question 4

what year was financial duties of coroners mostly gone?

Answer 4

1887

Question 5

what is a coroner?

Answer 5

a judicial officer - NOT medical examiner or forensics expert

Question 6

what do coroners do?

Answer 6

investigates death with unclear causes, or due to violence or in state custody

Question 7

how are coroners appointed?

Answer 7

• coroners and justice act 2099 schedule 3 paras 1-2
• coroner areas
• local authority/authorities appoint senior
• may make order for additional area or assistant corners
• local authority chooses, lord chancellor has final consent

Question 8

what is the coroners eligibility?

Answer 8

• must have been legally qualified for 5-7 years
• must be under 75
• may not be a councillor for the area they are to be coroner for

Question 9

what must coroners do?

Answer 9

must investigate if:
(a) the deceased died a violent or unnatural death
(b) the cause of death is unknown
(c) the deceased died while in custody or otherwise in state detention

Question 10

what can a senior coroner do?

Answer 10

report if a death happens they think ought to be investigated

Question 11

what are coroners looking for?

Answer 11

section 5 (1)
(a) who the deceased was
(b) how, when and where the deceased came by his/her death
(c) the particulars required by the 1953 act to be registered concerning the death

section 5 (3) no other opinions

Question 12

what is the coroners inquest?

Answer 12

s6 investigation must include an inquest unless it is discontinued after examination and cause of death is now clear (s4)

Question 13

when does a coroners inquest happen?

Answer 13

at the end of the investigation

Question 14

are coroners inquisitorial or adversarial?

Answer 14

inquisitorial

Question 15

when is a coroners inquest held with a jury?

Answer 15

if the senior coroner has reason to suspect:
- deceased died in police custody, death was violent/unnatural, the cause of death was unknown
but eh death resulted from an act or omission:
- the police officer, or is a member of a service police force
and if the death was:
- cause by a notifiable accident, poisoning or disease

Question 16

can an inquest be held if the senior coroner thinks that there is sufficient reasons for doing so?

Answer 16

yes

Question 17

who are the coroners jury?

Answer 17

• 7-11 persons
• eligible to be jurors in corn court

Question 18

what is the job of the juror in coroner cases, 3 key questions?

Answer 18

1. who the deceased was
2. how, when where the deceased came by his/her death
3. the particulars required to be registered concerning the death

Question 19

What is required for a jury’s determination or finding under section 10(1)?

Answer 19

It must be unanimous, unless only one or two members disagree and the jury has deliberated for a reasonable time as determined by the senior coroner.

Question 20

What must the coroner do before accepting a non-unanimous determination?

Answer 20

The coroner must require one jury member to publicly announce how many agreed and how many did not.

Question 21

what happens if the jury cannot reach an agreement?

Answer 21

the coroner may discharge the jury and summon a new one in its place