VocabuLaw

Inquest

What is it and what does it mean?

Description of the legal term Inquest:

An inquest in the United Kingdom is a judicial inquiry to determine the facts concerning the circumstances of a death. It is conducted by a Coroner, who is either a lawyer or a doctor with appropriate training in law. The primary aim of an inquest is not to apportion blame but to ascertain who the deceased was and how, when, and where they came by their death. At the heart of this process is the pursuit of the truth for the benefit of the deceased’s family and the public record.

The Coroner’s jurisdiction is activated in cases where death is sudden or unexplained, occurs in custody, or is the result of violence or other unnatural causes. The inquest does not address questions of criminal or civil liability, which are reserved for subsequent legal processes if warranted. However, it may come out during the process if the death was the result of a criminal act, such as murder or manslaughter, or due to negligence, but assigning liability is not its purpose.

The proceedings usually involve the review of medical records, witness testimonies, and expert evidence. The Coroner may decide to hold a pre-inquest review to organize the full hearing, which would include determining the scope of the investigation and identifying interested parties. An inquest culminates in a formal hearing, which is generally held in public unless there are exceptional circumstances.

The outcome of an inquest is a conclusion in which the Coroner records the facts surrounding the death. This could include a brief narrative, including any relevant circumstances, and the medical cause of death. Sometimes, a Coroner‘s conclusion may present issues of wider public safety and can make recommendations, known as “Regulation 28 reports”, to prevent future deaths in similar circumstances.

Legal context in which the term Inquest may be used:

Example 1:
In November 2016, a high-profile inquest was held into the death of a young soldier at Deepcut barracks. The initial inquiry had concluded suicide, but the family of the deceased pressed for a second inquest. They had concerns about the treatment of recruits at the barracks and believed that their son’s death may not have been self-inflicted. The subsequent inquest brought forth testimony from fellow soldiers and scrutinized the culture and practices at the barracks. However, it is crucial to remember that the process is not designed to solve crimes but to answer the four statutory questions: who the deceased was, and how, when, and where they came by their death.

Example 2:
Another poignant example was the inquest into the 1989 Hillsborough disaster. The first inquests concluded accidental death, but persistent efforts by the families of the 96 victims led to fresh inquests in 2014, which eventually delivered a conclusion of unlawful killing in 2016. The findings were significant, affecting subsequent legal actions, including criminal charges against two police officers, and contributed to widespread reform in UK stadium safety. These examples demonstrate how the process can influence broader outcomes while stressing that the role of the inquest is to gather and examine facts about the death without proclaiming guilt or innocence.

The importance of the inquest process in the British legal system cannot be overstated. It serves as a crucial mechanism for fact-finding in the case of unexplained deaths. While it may have limitations in terms of legal liability, it plays an essential role in serving the interests of justice by providing a measure of transparency and accountability regarding fatalities, especially those occurring under mysterious or controversial circumstances. Its contributions to public safety measures and policy reforms further underscore its significance within the British judiciary framework.

This website is for informational purposes only and may contain inaccuracies. It should not be used as a substitute for professional legal advice.