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Black, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Justice: SC 19 Dec 2017

The Court was asked whether the Crown is bound by the prohibition of smoking in most enclosed public places and workplaces, contained in Chapter 1 of Part 1 of the Health Act 2006. Held: However reluctantly, the claimant’s appeal was dismissed. Parliament must be assumed to have intended that the Crown be not bound by … Continue reading Black, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Justice: SC 19 Dec 2017

Secretary of State for Justice v Black: CA 8 Mar 2016

The Secretary of State appealed against a declaration that the provisions prohibiting smoking in pubic places applied in prisons. Held: The appeal succeeded. Judges: Lord Dyson MR Citations: [2016] EWCA Civ 125 Links: Bailii Statutes: Health Act 2006 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Cited – The Province of Bombay v The Municipal Corporation of The … Continue reading Secretary of State for Justice v Black: CA 8 Mar 2016

Black, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Justice: Admn 5 Mar 2015

The serving prisoner said that new general restrictions on smoking in public buildings applied also in prisons. were a breach of his human rights. The only spaces where prisoners were allowed now to smoke were their cells, and he would share cells with smokers, suffering second hand inhalation. He suffered health problems. Judges: Singh J … Continue reading Black, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Justice: Admn 5 Mar 2015

Revenue and Customs, Regina (on The Application of) v HM Coroner for The City of Liverpool: Admn 21 May 2014

The Coroner, conducting an investigation into a person’s death, issued notices under para 1(2) of Schedule 5 to the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, requiring the Revenue and Customs Commissioners to provide occupational information concerning the deceased for the purpose of investigating whether he had died as a result of an industrial disease. The Commissioner … Continue reading Revenue and Customs, Regina (on The Application of) v HM Coroner for The City of Liverpool: Admn 21 May 2014

Dawes and Others v Regina: CACD 26 Mar 2013

The defendants appealed their respective convictions for murder, saying that they had been provoked, and that their judges had wrongly directed their juries as to what amounted to qualifying trigger under the 2009 Act, which had replaced the former provocation defence. Held: Each appeal was rejected. To raise the defence, the defendant had to establish … Continue reading Dawes and Others v Regina: CACD 26 Mar 2013

A Local Authority v W L W T and R; In re W (Children) (Identification: Restrictions on Publication): FD 14 Jul 2005

An application was made by a local authority to restrict publication of the name of a defendant in criminal proceedings in order to protect children in their care. The mother was accused of having assaulted the second respondent by knowingly transmitted HIV/Aids to him by having unprotected sex but hiding her HIV status. Held: The … Continue reading A Local Authority v W L W T and R; In re W (Children) (Identification: Restrictions on Publication): FD 14 Jul 2005

Kenward and Another, Regina (on The Application of) v The Director of Public Prosecutions and Another: Admn 4 Dec 2015

The claimants challenged the policy issued by the DPP on assisted suicide following the Nicklinson case. Held: The request for judicial review was refused. Sir Brian Leveson P said: ‘It is important not to misunderstand the effect either of the policy or the impact of the amendment to the policy introduced by the DPP. The … Continue reading Kenward and Another, Regina (on The Application of) v The Director of Public Prosecutions and Another: Admn 4 Dec 2015

Worthington, Regina (on The Application of) v The Mother of Poppi Worthington and Others: Admn 11 Dec 2018

A 13 month old child had died. The coroner found that the cause had been an unsafe sleeping environment, but his verdict also made reference to a fact as found that she had been anally penetrated in the hours before her death. The father now applied to have those references removed from the review. Held: … Continue reading Worthington, Regina (on The Application of) v The Mother of Poppi Worthington and Others: Admn 11 Dec 2018

Nicklinson and Another, Regina (on The Application of): SC 25 Jun 2014

Criminality of Assisting Suicide not Infringing The court was asked: ‘whether the present state of the law of England and Wales relating to assisting suicide infringes the European Convention on Human Rights, and whether the code published by the Director of Public Prosecutions relating to prosecutions of those who are alleged to have assisted a … Continue reading Nicklinson and Another, Regina (on The Application of): SC 25 Jun 2014

Antoniou, Regina (on The Application of) v Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust and Others: Admn 10 Oct 2013

The patient had died while detained in a mental hospital. Held There was no need to conduct an immediate independent investigation before the inquest. Judges: Aikens LJ, Mitting J Citations: [2013] EWHC 3055 (Admin), [2015] 1 WLR 4459, [2013] Med LR 536, [2013] WLR(D) 379, (2014) 135 BMLR 89 Links: Bailii, WLRD Statutes: Coroners and … Continue reading Antoniou, Regina (on The Application of) v Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust and Others: Admn 10 Oct 2013

Gardner and Another, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and Others: Admn 27 Apr 2022

Patient transfer policy was unlawful The claimants had relatives who died in care homes early in the COVID-19 pandemic. They said that the policy of moving patients from hospitals to care homes without testing had contributed to the deaths, and many others, and had been unlawful. The respondents said that at the time it was … Continue reading Gardner and Another, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and Others: Admn 27 Apr 2022

Maguire, Regina (on The Application of) v United Respons and Others: CA 10 Jun 2020

Whether the circumstances surrounding the death of Jacqueline Maguire (known as Jackie) required the coroner to allow the jury at her inquest to return an expanded conclusion in accordance with section 5(2) of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 Judges: The Rt Hon the Lord Burnett of Maldon Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales … Continue reading Maguire, Regina (on The Application of) v United Respons and Others: CA 10 Jun 2020

Secretary of State for The Home Department v HM Senior Coroner for Surrey and Others: Admn 23 Nov 2016

The Home Secreary requested approval for the withholding of documents from a coroner’s inquest on the ground that disclosure would damage the public interest. The deceased had died whilst jogging, and there was a possibility that he had been unlawfully killed. He had been associated with the provision of evidence to Swiss prosecutors associating a … Continue reading Secretary of State for The Home Department v HM Senior Coroner for Surrey and Others: Admn 23 Nov 2016

Tyrrell v HM Senior Coroner County Durham and Darlington and Another: Admn 26 Jul 2016

The court was aked what article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights requires of a coroner when a serving prisoner dies of natural causes. Held: The reuest for judicial review failed. Mr Tyrrell’s death was, from the outset, one which was clearly from natural causes. The cause of death was established and then … Continue reading Tyrrell v HM Senior Coroner County Durham and Darlington and Another: Admn 26 Jul 2016

In re McKerr (Northern Ireland): HL 11 Mar 2004

The deceased had been shot by soldiers of the British Army whilst in a car in Northern Ireland. The car was alleged to have ‘run’ a checkpoint. The claimants said the investigation, now 20 years ago, had been inadequate. The claim was brought under human rights law, but predated by many years the incorporation of … Continue reading In re McKerr (Northern Ireland): HL 11 Mar 2004

LF, Regina (on The Application of) v HM Senior Coroner for Inner South London and Another: Admn 29 Oct 2015

The claimant whose daughter, suffering Down’s Syndrome, had died while in intensive care in hospital, challenged the rejection of her argument that her daughter had been in ‘state detention’ at the time. Gross LJ, Charles J [2015] EWHC 2990 (Admin), (2016) 180 JP 85, [2016] 1 WLR 2385, [2015] WLR(D) 442, [2016] COPLR 119, [2015] … Continue reading LF, Regina (on The Application of) v HM Senior Coroner for Inner South London and Another: Admn 29 Oct 2015

Engel And Others v The Netherlands (1): ECHR 8 Jun 1976

The court was asked whether proceedings in a military court against soldiers for disciplinary offences involved criminal charges within the meaning of Article 6(1): ‘In this connection, it is first necessary to know whether the provision(s) defining the offence charged belong, according to the legal system of the respondent State, to criminal law, disciplinary law … Continue reading Engel And Others v The Netherlands (1): ECHR 8 Jun 1976

The Secretary of State, Regina (on The Application of) v HM Senior Coroner for Norfolk and Another: Admn 28 Sep 2016

Coroner may not use flight records The coroner was charged to investigate four deaths in an helicopter accident. The Secretary of State now challenged various decisions of the Coroner by which (i) she ordered disclosure to her of a cockpit voice and flight data recorder and/or a full transcript of that voice recording; and (ii) … Continue reading The Secretary of State, Regina (on The Application of) v HM Senior Coroner for Norfolk and Another: Admn 28 Sep 2016

Stott (Procurator Fiscal, Dunfermline) and Another v Brown: PC 5 Dec 2000

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

Regina v Twist and Others: CACD 12 May 2011

The court considered the application of the 2003 Act to communications made to, or by, the defendant, and in particular text messages sent by mobile telephone. Held: The four appeals against conviction were dismissed. Singh established that the common law rules on hearsay had been abolished by the 2003 Act. The court set out its … Continue reading Regina v Twist and Others: CACD 12 May 2011

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

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

Secretary of State for Defence v Al-Skeini and others (The Redress Trust Intervening): HL 13 Jun 2007

Complaints were made as to the deaths of six Iraqi civilians which were the result of actions by a member or members of the British armed forces in Basra. One of them, Mr Baha Mousa, had died as a result of severe maltreatment in a prison occupied and run by British military personnel. It was … Continue reading Secretary of State for Defence v Al-Skeini and others (The Redress Trust Intervening): HL 13 Jun 2007

Smith, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Defence and Oxfordshire Assistant Deputy Coroner (Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening): SC 30 Jun 2010

The deceased soldier died of heat exhaustion whilst on active service in Iraq. It was said that he was owed a duty under human rights laws, and that any coroner’s inquest should be a fuller one to satisfy the state’s duty under Article 2. Held: The SSD’s appeal succeeded. ‘jurisdiction’ within the meaning of Article … Continue reading Smith, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Defence and Oxfordshire Assistant Deputy Coroner (Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening): SC 30 Jun 2010

Corner House Research and Others, Regina (on the Application of) v The Serious Fraud Office: HL 30 Jul 2008

SFO Director’s decisions reviewable The director succeeded on his appeal against an order declaring unlawful his decision to discontinue investigations into allegations of bribery. The Attorney-General had supervisory duties as to the exercise of the duties by the Director. It had become clear that a continued investigation would threaten co-operation between the UK and Saudi … Continue reading Corner House Research and Others, Regina (on the Application of) v The Serious Fraud Office: HL 30 Jul 2008

Lewis, Regina (on The Application of) v HM Coroner for The Mid and North Division of The County of Shropshire and Another: CA 21 Dec 2009

The claimant’s son was found hanging in his prison cell. He appealed refusal of a judicial review of the coroner’s decision not to put to the jury a question as to certain possible causative matters. The youth was seen hanging, but the guard called the wrong alarm code in, and did not attempt to cut … Continue reading Lewis, Regina (on The Application of) v HM Coroner for The Mid and North Division of The County of Shropshire and Another: CA 21 Dec 2009

Acts

1267 – 1278 – 1285 – 1297 – 1361 – 1449 – 1491 – 1533 – 1677 – 1688 – 1689 – 1700 – 1706 – 1710 – 1730 – 1737 – 1738 – 1751 – 1774 – 1792 – 1793 – 1804 – 1814 – 1819 – 1824 – 1828 – 1831 – 1832 … Continue reading Acts

Maughan, Regina (on The Application of) v Her Majesty’s Senior Coroner for Oxfordshire: SC 13 Nov 2020

Standard of Proof for Narrative Verdict ‘This appeal arises out of the inquest held into the death of Mr James Maughan. It concerns the standard of proof, or degree of conclusivity, required for the determination of the result of an inquest into a death where the question is whether the deceased committed suicide. The result … Continue reading Maughan, Regina (on The Application of) v Her Majesty’s Senior Coroner for Oxfordshire: SC 13 Nov 2020

Al-Khawaja v The United Kingdom; Tahery v The United Kingdom: ECHR 15 Dec 2011

(Grand Chamber) The claimants complained of the use against them of hearsay evidence in their trials. Held: ‘the underlying principle is that the defendant in a criminal trial should have an effective opportunity to challenge the evidence against him. This principle requires not merely that the defendant should know the identity of his accusers so … Continue reading Al-Khawaja v The United Kingdom; Tahery v The United Kingdom: ECHR 15 Dec 2011

Golds, Regina v: SC 30 Nov 2016

The defendant appealed against his conviction for murder, saying that he should have been only convicted of manslaughter, applying the new test for diminished responsibility as provided under the 1957 Act as amended, and particularly whether the judge should have given directions as to the meaning of ‘substantially’ in the context of his acknowledged impairment. … Continue reading Golds, Regina v: SC 30 Nov 2016

Brennan v Regina: CACD 21 Nov 2014

The defendant, then 22 had a history of disturbed childhood, sexual abuse and outpatient mental health treatment together with one instance when he was sectioned following a suicide attempt. On the undisputed psychiatric evidence he suffered from a schizotypal disorder as well as an emotionally unstable personality disorder. He was obsessed with witchcraft and Satanist … Continue reading Brennan v Regina: CACD 21 Nov 2014

Goring v Regina: CACD 13 Jan 2011

The defendant appealed against his convictions for murder and possession of an offensive weapon, saying that the judge had wrongly rejected his submission that there was no case to answer. Judges: Leveson, LJ, Davis, Lloyd Jones JJ Citations: [2011] EWCA Crim 2 Links: Bailii Statutes: Coroners and Justice Act 2009 54 55 Jurisdiction: England and … Continue reading Goring v Regina: CACD 13 Jan 2011

Amin, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department: HL 16 Oct 2003

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

Banks v United Kingdom: ECHR 6 Feb 2007

The applicants complained of maltreatment by prison officers in breach of article 3. The matter had been investigated by the Crown Prosecution Service which had decided not to prosecute. Civil proceedings had been raised and settled. The applicants contended that, even after all that, an independent public inquiry should be held, since it was the … Continue reading Banks v United Kingdom: ECHR 6 Feb 2007

In re S (a Child) (Identification: Restrictions on Publication): HL 28 Oct 2004

Inherent High Court power may restrain Publicity The claimant child’s mother was to be tried for the murder of his brother by poisoning with salt. It was feared that the publicity which would normally attend a trial, would be damaging to S, and an application was made for reporting restrictions to be applied to avoid … Continue reading In re S (a Child) (Identification: Restrictions on Publication): HL 28 Oct 2004

Attorney-General v Leveller Magazine Ltd: HL 1 Feb 1979

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

Sacker, Regina (on the Application of) v Coroner for the County of West Yorkshire: HL 11 Mar 2004

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

Rejmanski, Regina v: CACD 19 Dec 2017

Defendants appealed from convictions for murder saying that the judge had wrongly deprived them of partial defences under the 2009 Act by disalllowing their mental disorders as relevent to the assessment of ‘the circumstances of the defendant’ Judges: Hallett VP CACD, Spencer,Lavender JJ Citations: [2017] EWCA Crim 2061 Links: Bailii Statutes: Coroners and Justice Act … Continue reading Rejmanski, Regina v: CACD 19 Dec 2017

Maughan, Regina (on The Application of) v Senior Coroner for Oxfordshire: Admn 26 Jul 2018

The court was asked whether a coroner or a coroner’s jury, after hearing the evidence at an inquest into a death, may lawfully record a conclusion to the effect that the deceased committed suicide reached on the balance of probabilities; or whether such a conclusion is only permissible if it has been proved to the … Continue reading Maughan, Regina (on The Application of) v Senior Coroner for Oxfordshire: Admn 26 Jul 2018

T, Regina (on The Application of) v HM Senior Coroner for The County of West Yorkshire (Western Area): CA 28 Apr 2017

The coroner was to investigate the death of a baby, but was now asked whether it was first necessary to determine whether the child had been born alive and not still-born. Held: The principle of open justice is a fundamental principle of common law as applicable in a coroner’s court as in any other court, … Continue reading T, Regina (on The Application of) v HM Senior Coroner for The County of West Yorkshire (Western Area): CA 28 Apr 2017

Finucane, Re Application for Judicial Review: SC 27 Feb 2019

(Northern Ireland) The deceased solicitor was murdered in his home in 1989, allegedly by loyalists. They had never been identified, though collusion between security forces and a loyalist paramilitary was established. The ECHR and a judge led inquiry had said that a proper investigation was required. A promised inquiry under the 2005 Act was objected … Continue reading Finucane, Re Application for Judicial Review: SC 27 Feb 2019

Shafi v HM Senior Coroner for East London: Admn 20 Jul 2015

The claimant’s son had died in a prison attached to a police station in Dubai. She sought a new inquest saying that the first had been inadequate. Held: A new inquest was ordered. There had been difficulties in that the Dubai authorities had failed to supply CCTV evidence. More decisively however, the coroner had failed … Continue reading Shafi v HM Senior Coroner for East London: Admn 20 Jul 2015

The British Broadcasting Corporation v Johns (HM Inspector of Taxes): CA 5 Mar 1964

The BBC claimed to be exempt from income tax. It claimed crown immunity as an emanation of the crown. The court had to decide whether the BBC was subject to judicial review. Held: It is not a statutory creature; it does not exercise statutory functions; it is not in any general way subject to statutory … Continue reading The British Broadcasting Corporation v Johns (HM Inspector of Taxes): CA 5 Mar 1964

Mehmedov v Regina: CACD 18 Jul 2014

The defendant appealed against his conviction for the murder of his partner. He said that the court should have accepted his plea under section 54 of the 2009 Act, having wrongly admitted as evidence his previous covictions in Bulgaria at a time when, he said, people of his racial descent were regularly wrongly convicted. Pitchford … Continue reading Mehmedov v Regina: CACD 18 Jul 2014

Edwards v The United Kingdom: ECHR 14 Mar 2002

The deceased, a young man of mixed race, had been placed in a cell with another prisoner who was known to be violent, racist, and mentally unstable. The staff knew that the panic button was defective. The deceased was murdered by his cell-mate. His family asserted that the prison authorities had failed to protect his … Continue reading Edwards v The United Kingdom: ECHR 14 Mar 2002

Maughan, Regina (on The Application of) v Her Majesty’s Senior Coroner for Oxfordshire: CA 10 May 2019

Standard of Proof of Suicide at Inquest Questions of importance concerning the law and practice of coroners’ inquests where an issue is raised as to whether the deceased died by suicide. The questions can be formulated as follows: (1) Is the standard of proof to be applied the criminal standard (satisfied so as to be … Continue reading Maughan, Regina (on The Application of) v Her Majesty’s Senior Coroner for Oxfordshire: CA 10 May 2019

Jordan v United Kingdom; McKerr v United Kingdom; similar: ECHR 4 May 2001

Proper Investigation of Deaths with Army or Police Claims were made as regards deaths of alleged terrorists in clashes with the UK armed forces and police. In some cases the investigations necessary to justify the taking of life had been inadequate. Statements made to the inquiry as to the circumstances of the deaths had not … Continue reading Jordan v United Kingdom; McKerr v United Kingdom; similar: ECHR 4 May 2001