Re JS (Disposal of Body) EWHC 2859 (Fam) 10.10.2016 Last month saw the three Brexit judges on the front pages, unfairly lambasted by the media just for doing their jobs properly. It’s a shame that the press who seem, on the whole, to rather like this latest Family Court decision, haven’t sought to make Mr […]
The principle of open justice, allowing pubic scrutiny of how citizens come by their deaths, is at the core of the inquest process. Save in exceptional circumstances[1] Inquests should be heard in open court with the media able to fully report the proceedings. “The names of those who are born and those who die are […]
Read More… from Anonymisation of victims of sexual-offences in Inquest proceedings
R (on the application of Secretary of State for Transport) (Claimant) v HM Senior Coroner for Norfolk (Defendant) & British Airline Pilots Association (Intervener) [2016] EWHC 2279 (Admin) Readers of the UK Inquest Law Blog need no reminding that prior to the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, coroners had no power to order disclosure of […]
R (Maxine Hamilton-Jackson) v HM Assistant Coroner for Mid Kent and Medway [2016] EWHC 1796 (Admin), 19.7.16 The absence of opening or closing speeches at inquests means that the need for clarity when summing up is all the more important. The jury must know clearly what they need to find as facts in order to justify […]
Read More… from Polarising the dichotomy! Inquest juries need it kept clear and simple
R (Tyrrell) v Senior Coroner for Durham & Darlington [2016] EWHC 1892 (Admin), 26.7.16 (here) Around two thirds of the 250 deaths in prison each year are from a naturally occurring cause. In a decision that will be warmly welcomed by Coroners, the Divisional Court has now determined that there is no obligation to hold […]
Read More… from What does Article 2 require after a death in prison from “natural causes”?