What happens at the inquest?
What happens at the inquest?
An inquest is an investigation into the facts of how your relative has died. A coroner will look at different information and decide the cause of death. The coroner will tell the next of kin, or the personal representative, when your relative’s inquest will take place.
What is inquest hospital?
A hospital inquest can help to determine the circumstances of a person’s death. If you believe that someone you know has died because of failings in the care provided to them before they died, the outcome of an inquest can play an important role in any claim for compensation based on medical negligence.
What does inquest hearing mean?
Inquest hearing means a formal court hearing held to determine whether the death of a person was caused by an unlawful act or omission and, if the death was caused by an unlawful act or omission, to obtain evidence to form the basis of a criminal prosecution. Sample 1Sample 2Sample 3.
What is post mortem or inquest?
The main aim of a post-mortem requested by a coroner is to find out how someone died and decide whether an inquest is needed. An inquest is a legal investigation into the circumstances surrounding a person’s death.
What is the purpose of inquest?
An inquest is an informal and summary investigation conducted by the public prosecutor in a criminal case involving persons arrested and detained without the benefit of a warrant of arrest issued by the court for the purpose of determining whether said persons should remain under custody and correspondingly be charged …
What is the reason for an inquest?
An inquest is an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding a death. The purpose of the inquest is to find out who the deceased person was and how, when and where they died and to provide the details needed for their death to be registered. It is not a trial.
Why does a death go to inquest?
A coroner must hold an inquest if: the cause of death is still unknown. the person might have died a violent or unnatural death. the person might have died in prison or police custody.
Is an inquest a trial?
An inquest is not a trial. It is not the role of the Coroner to decide any question of criminal or civil liability or to apportion guilt or attribute blame. Once the Coroner’s investigation into a death is complete, the Coroner will decide if an inquest is to be held.
Why is there an inquest into a death?
How long after death does an inquest take place?
6-9 months
If an Inquest is to take place, it can be months (or even years) before the final hearing, depending on the complexity of the legal and medical issues. Most Coroners aim to complete Inquests within 6-9 months of the initial report of the death.
Who has the right to ask questions at an inquest?
‘Interested parties’ are often those closest to the deceased such as family members. You are entitled to ask questions yourself – or you can instruct QualitySolicitors to represent you and to ask questions on your behalf. However what the Coroner will not allow are questions that directly relate to who was to blame.
How long does an inquest take?
If an Inquest is to take place, it can be months (or even years) before the final hearing, depending on the complexity of the legal and medical issues. Most Coroners aim to complete Inquests within 6-9 months of the initial report of the death.
Can you have a funeral if there is an inquest?
When can the funeral be held? If postmortem reveals that the death was due to natural causes, such as a heart attack and an inquest is not needed, the coroner will release the body and you can register the death. The funeral can then take place.
Can you have an inquest without a post-mortem?
In a small number of cases, the Coroner decides that an inquest to look into the circumstances of the death is needed, but a post mortem examination is not.
Why would a death go to inquest?
Can family speak at an inquest?
However, the witnesses may be represented by lawyers. The Coroner decides who to call as a witness. As part of the investigation, the Coroner will request a statement from family members, doctors, or anyone who may have relevant information and the Coroner may call that person as a witness at the inquest.
What triggers an inquest?
The law says that the Coroner must open an inquest into a death if there is reasonable cause to suspect that the death was due to anything other than natural causes. There is no exact legal definition of a ‘natural’ cause of death.
Why do you need an inquest?
How long does an inquest into death take?
Can you have funeral before inquest?
Once the inquest has been held the death can be registered and the funeral can take place (although in some cases the coroner may allow the funeral to go ahead before the inquest is over).