Lecture 15 - The Coroner

Question 1

What does the coroner determine?

Answer 1

• That a person has died
• Who, when, and where
• Cause of death
• Circumstances of death

Question 2

What do coroners have to make?

Answer 2

Recommendations or comments to prevent further deaths

Question 3

How many coroners are NZ?

Answer 3

22

Question 4

How many coroner cases are there approximately?

Answer 4

5,500

Question 5

Around how many deaths in NZ each years and how many come into coroners jurisdicition?

Answer 5

• 33,000 deaths
• 3600 into coroners jurisdiction

Question 6

Which deaths is the coroner involved in?

Answer 6

• Most deaths that happen after illness
• Not unexpected
• If doctor cannot sign medical certificate

Question 7

When must a death be reported to police?

Answer 7

• When a body is found
• If a person learns of a death that is reportable

Question 8

What are 7 causes of death that a reportable?

Answer 8

• 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)

Question 9

What is the NIIO?

Answer 9

National initial investigations office (connects police/doctors to duty coroner)

Question 10

What is the role of a duty coroner?

Answer 10

• Responsible for the body for the first 24-48 hours

Question 11

What does the duty coroner determine?

Answer 11

• Jurisdiction
• Identification
• Post-mortem
• Release of body

Question 12

What is a lesser post-mortem?

Answer 12

PM procedure that only examines the external body

Question 13

When can family members object a post-mortem procedure?

Answer 13

In any case except when it appears to be a homicide case

Question 14

What is inquiry?

Answer 14

• Fact-finding not blame
• Comments and recommendations to prevent future deaths

Question 15

What are 4 steps in fact-finding?

Answer 15

• Police investigations
• Other investigations?
• Statutory requests for information
• Reports commissioned/obtained

Question 16

What is hearing on papers (HOP)?

Answer 16

• When a case is held in chambers (done in office)
• No witness presented
• No other evidence provided

90% of cases

Question 17

What is Inquest?

Answer 17

• Formal court hearing
• Evidence presented
• Witness examined and cross-examined

10% of cases

Question 18

What happens when someone may be charged with criminal offence?

Answer 18

• Coroner awaits outcome of the criminal process as an inquiry may or may not be needed

Question 19

What is circummstantial identification?

Answer 19

Identification based on circumstantial evidence e.g. clothes, jewelry, car

Question 19

What is circummstantial identification?

Answer 19

Identification based on circumstantial evidence e.g. clothes, jewelry, car

Question 20

What is the role of the coroner during mass fatality incidents?

Answer 20

• Is post mortem required?
• Scope?
• Timings
• Identiifcation (liaising with personnel)

Question 21

What do coroners do for ID hearings?

Answer 21

• 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

Question 22

What happens with fragments of deceased?

Answer 22

• Those that can be identified will be offered back to the family
• Those that can’t are usually buried together