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Work of Coroners |
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Who are Coroners?
Coroners are usually doctors but in some cases may be lawyers. Coroners are independent judicial officers. This means that no-one else can tell them or direct them as to what they should do but they must follow the laws and regulations which apply. |
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Who bears the costs of the coroners?
The cost of coroners service is met by local taxation |
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What does the coroner do?
Coroners enquires into those death reported to him. It is his duty to find out the medical cause of the death, if it is not known, and to enquire about the cause of it if it was due to violence or unnatural. If the cause remains in doubt after a post mortem, an inquest will be held. |
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What is the purpose of an inquest?
| The inquest is a limited fact-finding inquiry to establish the answers to |
| Who has died? |
| When and where the death occurred? and |
| How the cause of death arose? |
| Information needed by the B.M.C. for registration so the death can be registered |
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Will the inquest decide who is to blame?
NO. An inquest is not a trial. It is a limited inquiry into the facts surrounding a death. It is not the job of the coroner to blame anyone for the death, as a trial would do. |
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What happens if somebody has been charged with causing the death?
Where a person has been charged with murder or manslaughter, 'child destruction', infanticide, causing death by reckless driving or taking part in another person's suicide, the inquest is postponed until the person's trial is over. Before adjourning, the coroner finds out who the deceased was and how he or she died.
After the criminal proceedings, the coroner may restart the inquest. |
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What about other court proceedings?
Any other court proceedings will normally follow the inquest. When all the facts about the cause of death are known, then a person may be brought before another court, or a claim for damages made. The inquest may be of help to the family of the deceased in finding out what happened. The information obtained may also help to avoid similar accidents in future. |
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Is there always a jury during in an inquest?
No. Most inquests are held without a jury. There are particular reasons when a jury will be called including: if the death occurred in prison or in police custody or if the death resulted from an incident at work. In every inquest held with a jury, it is the jury, and the coroner which makes the final decision. Jurors are not expected to view the body, although in some cases they may have to look at unpleasant photographs. |
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What happens after finishing the autopsy?
The Coroner issues a Medical Cause of death certificate or a provisional medical cause of death certificate in some cases. The funeral can take place after all formalities concerned with police or coroner are over. |
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Notes:
Please note that this information is gathered through media only for briefing the public as to what the coroners are. It does not outline the functions or duties of the coroners. |
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