What is the purpose of 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.
What are court inquests?
An inquest is a formal investigation conducted by a coroner in order to determine how someone died. The purpose of an inquest is limited to establishing four key things: the identity of the deceased as well as where, when and how they died. …
What happens in an 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.
Do inquests get published?
Inquests are in public All inquests are public and anyone can attend. Reports of an inquest may be published in national and local newspapers, but in practice only a minority of inquests are actually reported.
What do coroners do?
A coroner is a government or judicial official who is empowered to conduct or order an inquest into the manner or cause of death, and to investigate or confirm the identity of an unknown person who has been found dead within the coroner’s jurisdiction. The term coroner derives from the same source as the word crown.
Do families attend inquest?
The family and other interested persons can be represented by a lawyer but it is not a requirement and most inquests take place without such representation. It is not necessary for the bereaved relatives to attend the inquest if they do not wish to as sometimes the death may need to be dealt with in graphic terms.
What is the inquest Act?
To provide for the holding of inquests in cases of deaths or alleged . deaths apparently occurring from other than natural causes and for matters incidental thereto, and to repeal the Fire Inquests Act, 1883 (Cape of Good Hope) and the Fire Inquests Law, 1884 (Natal).
What are the types of inquest?
There are 5 different types of inquests:
- Police inquest.
- Magistrate inquest.
- Coroner inquest.
- Medical examiner’s system.
- Procurator fiscal.
How do you write an inquest statement?
Be concise and clear, avoiding jargon or abbreviations. Explain medical terminology including medication and what it is used for. Write as if for an intelligent lay person. This will be appreciated by the Coroner and the family.
What is inquest When is it done?
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 …
Can you see inquest records?
The majority of post mid-18th century records of inquests are held at local archives and not The National Archives. Records of deaths less than 75 years old may be retained by the coroner’s office.
Are inquest results public?
When the coroner’s investigations are complete, a date for the inquest is set and the people who need to know will be told. Inquests are open to the public and journalists are usually present.
What to expect from an inquest?
What to expect an Inquest. Usually an Inquest is held before a Coroner alone. Sometimes there will be a jury, for example, if a person has died in prison or police custody. If someone is fatally injured at work or dies in suspicious circumstances in a hospital or care home, there will also be a jury.
What is an inquest proceeding?
Inquest Proceedings. Inquest is an informal and summary investigation conducted by a public prosecutor in criminal cases involving persons arrested and detained without the benefit of a warrant of arrest issued by the court for the purpose of determining whether or not said persons should remain under custody and correspondingly be charged in court.
What is a coroner’s inquest?
A coroner’s inquest is a public court hearing, which may involve a jury. It will be held as soon as possible, usually within six months of the death. During the coroner’s inquest the evidence will be reviewed to try to determine how the person died. At the end, the coroner or jury will come to a conclusion,…