The deceased committed suicide in prison. Her family sought to have added to the verdict the words ‘contributed by neglect’ and complained that the inquest had not provided a full and proper investigation of the death. Held: The Act needed to be read in its broader meaning to be compliant with the 1998 Act. ‘The … Continue reading Sacker, Regina (on the Application of) v Coroner for the County of West Yorkshire: HL 11 Mar 2004
The death occurred whilst diving some eight or nine miles offshore. The applicant, the deceased’s father challenged the coroner’s decision to refuse jurisdiction for an inquest. Held: The body was not, in the terms of the 1926 Act, ‘in or near the area within which he had jurisdiction’. Held: The wording used ordinary words of … Continue reading Regina v East Sussex Coroner Ex parte Healy: QBD 1988
The deceased had committed suicide in prison. His family felt that the risk should have been known to the prison authorities, and that they had failed to guard against that risk. The coroner had requested an explanatory note from the jury. Held: The jury should indeed have been given opportunity to explain their verdict: ‘By … Continue reading Middleton, Regina (on the Application of) v Coroner for the Western District of Somerset: HL 11 Mar 2004
A decision taken under the royal prerogative whether or not to issue a passport was subject to judicial review, although relief was refused on the facts of the particular case. Taylor LJ summarised the effect of the GCHQ case as making clear that the powers of the court ‘cannot be ousted merely by invoking the … Continue reading Regina v Foreign Secretary ex parte Everett: CA 20 Oct 1988
The court was asked whether evidence of the commission of the criminal offence of causing death by careless driving contrary to section 2B of the 1988 Act is capable of justifying a verdict of ‘unlawful killing’ at an inquest. Held: The coroner had been wrong to leave the offences of causing death by dangerous driving … Continue reading Wilkinson, Regina (on The Application of) v HM Coroner for The Greater Manchester South District: Admn 11 Oct 2012
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A coroner was free to exclude evidence which he thought to be irrelevant or even if relevant where for expediency, exclusion would avoid increasing the length of the inquest and only add to the jury’s task. Citations: Independent 20-Aug-1993 Statutes: Coroners Act 1988 11(2) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Coroners Updated: 11 May 2022; Ref: scu.86865
The deceased was found hanging in her prison cell. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death, not being satisfied that she was not merely making a cry for help. The family appealed a finding that the inquest had satisfied the requirement for a fuller investigation of a death in custody, there having been an … Continue reading P, Regina (on The Application of) v HM Coroner for The District of Avon: CA 18 Dec 2009
The deceased prisoner had hanged himself. He had been a known suicide risk, and his brother said that the authorities being so aware, the death resulted from their lack of care. The inquest heard in full the circumstannces leading up to the death, but the Coroner directed the jury not to return a verdict which … Continue reading Regina v North Humberside and Scunthorpe Coroner ex parte Jamieson: CA 27 Apr 1994
The claimant sought judicial review of decisions of the coroner at the inquest of his late wife, and in particular as to the non-disclosure by the coroner of the police report prepared for the inquest.
Held: ‘The police report is a document . .
Citations: [2003] EWHC 1896 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Coroners Act 1988 13 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Coroners Updated: 06 December 2022; Ref: scu.185811
The 1988 Act was a consolidating Act. Citations: Unreported, 19 February 1982 Statutes: Coroners Act 1988 83 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – Middleton, Regina (on the Application of) v Coroner for the Western District of Somerset HL 11-Mar-2004 The deceased had committed suicide in prison. His family felt that the risk should … Continue reading Regina v Walthamstow Coroner, Ex parte Rubenstein: 19 Feb 1982
Judges: Pill LJ, Rafferty J Citations: [2010] EWHC 1165 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Coroners Act 1988 13(1)(b) Coroners Updated: 18 August 2022; Ref: scu.416118
Prisoner’s death – need for full public enquiry The deceased had been a young Asian prisoner. He was placed in a cell overnight with a prisoner known to be racist, extremely violent and mentally unstable. He was killed. The family sought an inquiry into the death. Held: There had been a police investigation and trial … Continue reading Amin, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department: HL 16 Oct 2003
A patient suffering schizophrenia had been a voluntary patient. He was allowed to visit another unit within the hospital grounds, but then left altogether and was next found preparing to jump from Tower Bridge. He was taken by ambulance to Hospital but, left to wait, he again left, and a person of his description was … Continue reading Takoushis, Regina (on the Application of) v HM Coroner for Inner North London: Admn 16 Dec 2004
The claimants appealed refusal of a judicial review of the defendant’s decision to enter into the war in Iraq. The claimants were parents of troops who had died in the war. They said that the legal advice given to the government was incorrect. Held: Human Rights law requires a proper investigation into deaths, but that … Continue reading Gentle and Clarke, Regina (on the Application Of) v Prime Minister and others: CA 12 Dec 2006
The deceased had committed suicide whilst in prison. It was argued that the prison should have recognised that he was a suicide risk, and acted accordingly. The coroner had requested a note from the jury as to the cause of death. The court considered whether a coroner’s inquest satisfied the requirements for an investigation of … Continue reading Middleton, Regina (on the Application of) v Coroner for the Western District of Somerset: Admn 14 Dec 2001
The appellants were magazines and journalists who published, after committal proceedings, the name of a witness, a member of the security services, who had been referred to as Colonel B during the hearing. An order had been made for his name not to be disclosed during the hearing, but the court had had no power … Continue reading Attorney-General v Leveller Magazine Ltd: HL 1 Feb 1979
In each case a death had occurred many years earlier where the deceased had apparently died at the hands of the armed forces. The relatives now challenged the range of verdicts which could be left to a coroner’s jury.Lord Bingham said: ‘The Coroner must decide how widely the inquiry should range to elicit the facts … Continue reading Jordan v Lord Chancellor and Another (Northern Ireland): HL 28 Mar 2007
The applicants sought judicial review of preliminary directions given for the intended inquest on the deaths of Diana Princess of Wales and of Dodi Al Fayed. It was submitted that the jurisdiction had been wrongly transferred to the Queen’s Coroner under section 14. Held: under the 1988 Act, the Coroner for the Queen’s household was … Continue reading Paul and others v Deputy Coroner of the Queen’s Household and Another: Admn 2 Mar 2007
The Commissioner appealed an order requiring the North London Coroner to re-open an inquest into a death of Mr Hurst. Following the adjournment a neighbour had been convicted of the murder. The commissioner argued that since the death had occurred before the coming into effect of the Human Rights Act, the coroner was not under … Continue reading Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis v Hurst: CA 21 Jul 2005
The family appealed against an open verdict. Her son was found hanged at school. The coroner felt unable to be sure that he had committed suicide. He had been looking forward to a new job as a theatre technician. Held: There was evidence available now which had not been available at the inquest which undermined … Continue reading Parkin v HM Coroner for North Lincolnshire and Grimsby District: Admn 23 Mar 2005
The applicant sought the quashing of an inquest verdict, and for a new inquest. The coroner resisted claiming that it would put too great a strain on his resources. Held: The section allowed a coroner to appoint a deputy who would be able to hold the inquest. The words ‘in his absence’ could include occasions … Continue reading Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis v Inner London Coroner: QBD 31 Oct 2002
The deceased died after being hit by a policemen with his baton when being arrested. The verdict of misadventure was now challenged. The police officer said he had hit out in fear of imminent attack. It was said that the Coroner had permitted those representing the police to bring in previous convictions recorded against the … Continue reading Regina v Southwark Coroner ex parte Fields: Admn 30 Jan 1998
The claimant appealed against a costs order. She had previously appealed against an order of the High Court on her application for judicial review of the inquest held by the respondent. Held: The coroner, and others in a similar position should not generally be expected to pay the costs of an appeal against an order … Continue reading Regina on the Application of Davies (No 2) v HM Deputy Coroner for Birmingham: CA 27 Feb 2004
The applicant, a sister of the deceased, requested a judicial review of the decision of the coroner not to allow her to be represented and to cross examine witnesses. Held: One of the coroner’s letters had been offensive and misleading. A close blood relative should normally be allowed to be represented. The coroner had erred … Continue reading Regina v Coroner for Southern District of Greater London, ex Parte Driscoll: Admn 22 Oct 1993
The claimant’s son had been stabbed to death. She challenged the refusal of the coroner to continue with the inquest with a view to examining the responsibility of any of the police in having failed to protect him. Held: The question amounted to asking whether the coroner’s decision on the resumption should have been affected … Continue reading Hurst, Regina (on the Application of) v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis v London Northern District Coroner: HL 28 Mar 2007
Domestic Offence requires Domestic Defence Each defendant sought to raise by way of defence of their otherwise criminal actions, the fact that they were attempting to prevent the commission by the government of the crime of waging an aggressive war in Iraq, and that their acts were accordingly justified in law. Held: The law on … Continue reading Regina v Jones (Margaret), Regina v Milling and others: HL 29 Mar 2006
The court heard an application for judicial review of the Coroner’s verdict, on the grounds of procedural irregularity and insufficiency of enquiry. The claimant also sought a new review in the light of more recently received evidence. Held: The first claim failed. As to the second, Moses LJ said: ‘Whilst, on the state of the … Continue reading Sutovic, Regina (on the Application Of) v HM Coroner for North London: Admn 17 May 2006
The system under which the registered keeper of a vehicle was obliged to identify herself as the driver, and such admission was to be used subsequently as evidence against her on a charge of driving with excess alcohol, was not a breach of her right to a fair trial. The right not to give evidence … Continue reading Stott (Procurator Fiscal, Dunfermline) and Another v Brown: PC 5 Dec 2000
Exercise of Prerogative Power is Reviewable The House considered an executive decision made pursuant to powers conferred by a prerogative order. The Minister had ordered employees at GCHQ not to be members of trades unions. Held: The exercise of a prerogative power of a public nature may be, subject to constraints of national security and … Continue reading Council of Civil Service Unions v Minister for the Civil Service: HL 22 Nov 1984
The claimant had supported the grant of a visa to a woman in order to speak to members of Parliament who was de facto leader of an Iranian organsation which had in the past supported terrorism and had been proscribed in the UK, but that proscription had been cancelled by the Tribunal. Lord Carlile appealed … Continue reading Lord Carlile of Berriew QC, and Others, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for The Home Department: SC 12 Nov 2014
The claimant’s husband had been lost from the defendant’s ship at sea. The defendant had contracted to pay compensation unless the loss was by suicide. They so determined. The court was now asked whether that was a permissible conclusion in the circumstances: ‘This case raises two inter-linked questions of principle, one general and one particular. … Continue reading Braganza v BP Shipping Ltd: SC 18 Mar 2015
The claimant widow sued in negligence after the disappearance overboard of her husband from the respondent’s ship. The court had found insufficient evidence to establish the cause of death, either as to negligence as suggested by the claimant, or as to suicide as suggested by the defendant. Held: The evidence for suicide was sufficient. Longmore, … Continue reading Braganza v BP Shipping Ltd and Others: CA 22 Mar 2013
The deceased died aged 14 in a Secure Training Centre by hanging. He had complained of his treatment and restraint methods used. The mother sought judicial review of the conduct of the inquest, wanting the coroner not to have ruled on the legality of the restraint methods used, and which of the STC Rules and … Continue reading Pounder, Regina (on the Application of) v HM Coroner for the North and South Districts of Durham and Darlington and others: Admn 22 Jan 2009
Two children died when their father jumped with them from a hotel balcony. The father had been acquitted in Crete of manslaughter after evidence of his psychiatric condition. The applicant now challenged the English coroner’s verdict of unlawful killing. Held: If the trial had been in England, a coroner could not make a finding inconsistent … Continue reading O’Connor, Regina (On the Application of) v HM Coroner for District of Avon and Another: Admn 7 May 2009
Relatives sought judicial review of the coroner’s decision not to allow a jury, and against allowance of an expert witness. The deceased had been a mental patient but had been arrested with a view to being hospitalised. He was taken first to the AandE department. From there he escaped and jumped into and drowned in … Continue reading Takoushis, Regina (on the Application of) v HM Coroner for Inner North London and others: CA 30 Nov 2005
The court discussed the function of the coroner and his inquest. Lord Lane CJ said: ‘The coroner’s task in a case such as this is a formidable one, and no one would dispute that; that is quite apart from the difficulties which inevitably arise when feelings are running high and the spectators are emotionally involved … Continue reading Regina v South London Coroner ex parte Thompson: 8 Jul 1982
The appellants were mothers of two servicemen who had died whilst on active service in Iraq. They appealed refusal to grant a public inquiry. There had already been coroners inquests. They said that Article 2 had been infringed. Held: The appeal was dismissed. The right to an inquiry was procedural and depended first on the … Continue reading Gentle, Regina (on the Application of) and Another v The Prime Minister and Another: HL 9 Apr 2008
Limitation on Making of Anonymity Orders A firm of solicitors sought an order for anonymity in their proceedings against the LAB, saying that being named would damage their interests irrespective of the outcome. Held: The legal professions have no special part in the law as a party to entitle a court to allow a solicitors … Continue reading Regina v Legal Aid Board ex parte Kaim Todner (a Firm of Solicitors): CA 10 Jun 1998
The mother of the deceased asked for a new inquest, saying that there had been insufficient enquiry. He was an adult suffering Asperger’s syndrome and other difficulties, but had sought and been given excess prescriptions of fentanyl a drug to control bowel pain. The coroner had been unable to find an explanation for how he … Continue reading Jones v HM Coroner for The Southern District of Greater London and Another: Admn 28 Apr 2010
The claimants were PRs of men who had died or were severely injured on active duty in Iraq being variously fired at by mistake by other coalition forces, or dying in vehicles attacked by roadside bombs. Appeals were heard against a finding that the . .
The deceased had gone to hospital and was diagnosed as having a kidney stone. As it was removed there was evidence of infection. She declined and was transferred to the local NHS hospital in intensive care. She died and a post-mortem identified . .
