Lecture 15 - The Coroner Flashcards
What does the coroner determine?
- That a person has died
- Who, when, and where
- Cause of death
- Circumstances of death
What do coroners have to make?
Recommendations or comments to prevent further deaths
How many coroners are NZ?
22
How many coroner cases are there approximately?
5,500
Around how many deaths in NZ each years and how many come into coroners jurisdicition?
- 33,000 deaths
- 3600 into coroners jurisdiction
Which deaths is the coroner involved in?
- Most deaths that happen after illness
- Not unexpected
- If doctor cannot sign medical certificate
When must a death be reported to police?
- When a body is found
- If a person learns of a death that is reportable
What are 7 causes of death that a reportable?
- Suicide
- Cause unknown (no medical certificate)
- Unnatural or violent
- Medical, surgical, dental procedure and medically unexpected
- During birth (as a result of pregnancy or giving birth)
- Institutional deaths (prison, police custody etc)
- Enactment (mental health/oranga tamariki)
What is the NIIO?
National initial investigations office (connects police/doctors to duty coroner)
What is the role of a duty coroner?
- Responsible for the body for the first 24-48 hours
What does the duty coroner determine?
- Jurisdiction
- Identification
- Post-mortem
- Release of body
What is a lesser post-mortem?
PM procedure that only examines the external body
When can family members object a post-mortem procedure?
In any case except when it appears to be a homicide case
What is inquiry?
- Fact-finding not blame
- Comments and recommendations to prevent future deaths
What are 4 steps in fact-finding?
- Police investigations
- Other investigations?
- Statutory requests for information
- Reports commissioned/obtained
What is hearing on papers (HOP)?
- When a case is held in chambers (done in office)
- No witness presented
- No other evidence provided
90% of cases
What is Inquest?
- Formal court hearing
- Evidence presented
- Witness examined and cross-examined
10% of cases
What happens when someone may be charged with criminal offence?
- Coroner awaits outcome of the criminal process as an inquiry may or may not be needed
What is circummstantial identification?
Identification based on circumstantial evidence e.g. clothes, jewelry, car
What is circummstantial identification?
Identification based on circumstantial evidence e.g. clothes, jewelry, car
What is the role of the coroner during mass fatality incidents?
- Is post mortem required?
- Scope?
- Timings
- Identiifcation (liaising with personnel)
What do coroners do for ID hearings?
- Presides and considers evidence of identfication presented by police re each victim to determine whether he/she is satisfied that identity has been established
- Once the coroner has no reason to retian custody of a body, release documents will be sent to the mortuary and the nominated funeral director
What happens with fragments of deceased?
- Those that can be identified will be offered back to the family
- Those that can’t are usually buried together
