Smith v HM Coroner for Cornwall (2015) 22/10/2015 The important role a coroner’s inquest has to play in elucidating factors relevant to the death in a way that might then allow for the greater protection of the wider public is exemplified by this recent decision of the Divisional Court. Inquests into two deaths from carbon […]
Wilson v HM Coroner for Birmingham and Solihull [2015] EWHC 2561 (Admin) “Fairness in an inquest must be fashioned in an environment where there are no pleadings and in which those given leave to appear as interested persons do not have a case to put. The evidence at inquests often takes an unexpected turn and […]
Thompson v HM Assistant Coroner for Durham [2015] EWHC 1781 (Admin) Kristian Thompson was 19 years old when he died. He was a detained patient in a hospital secure unit under s.3 Mental Health Act. On the day of his death he had suffered an episode of incontinence and went to shower. He was found […]
Read More… from Is the s.13 fiat process in the interests of justice?
On 20 August 2015 the Lord Chancellor published revised guidance on civil legal aid funding in inquest cases. It takes into account the conclusions of the Court of Appeal in the case of Letts v The Lord Chancellor [2015] Inquest Law Reports 15, and now recognises that there are some categories of case in which […]
Read More… from Revised Guidance on Civil Legal Aid exceptional case funding for Inquests
Senior Coroner for Cumbria v Ian Smith [2015] EWHC 2465 (Admin) Poppi Worthington, was only 13 months old when she died in hospital in December 2012 having apparently sustained fractures to her leg and other injuries. Yet despite there clearly being reason to suspect that this was a violent or unnatural death, and an inquest […]
Read More… from Justice neither done, nor seen to be done, in a secret inquest