New guidelines for legal professionals practising within the Coroners’ Courts have been published by the Bar Standards Board, the Solicitors Regulation Authority and CILEx Regulation. The new guidelines were introduced in response to concerns, particularly about the adversarial approach adopted by some lawyers. The key takeaways are summarised below.
Dove v HM Coroner for Teesside and Hartlepool [2021] EWHC 1738 (Admin)
In this article, Richard Ive discusses the case of Dove v HM Coroner for Teesside and Hartlepool [2021] EWHC 1738 (Admin), which raises important questions relating to Article 2 (the right to life).
2022 Inquest Cases Round-up
In this article, pupil Jake Loomes looks at seven significant inquest law judgments of 2022.
Morahan v HM Assistant Coroner for West London
In this article, pupil Rebecca Henshaw discusses the recent appeal judgment in Morahan, which deals with the issue of when the enhanced investigative duty under Article 2 of the ECHR will be automatically engaged in an inquest.
Disclosure of Protected Evidence Denied in Inquest following Shoreham airshow disaster
In this blog Cressida Mawdesley-Thomas considers the decision of the High Court in HM Senior Coroner for West Sussex v Chief Constable of Sussex Police & Ors [2022] EWHC. This case arises out of the Shoreham air show disaster where 11 people were killed and 13 injured after a Hawker Hunter crashed onto the A27 … Continue reading Disclosure of Protected Evidence Denied in Inquest following Shoreham airshow disaster
R (Morahan) v HM Coroner for West London [2021] EWHC 1603 (Admin)
In this article, Ed Ramsay discusses the recent case of Morahan, which deals with the issue of when the enhanced investigative duty under Article 2 of the ECHR will be automatically engaged in an inquest.
Causation: A Recent Case Lays Bare the Different Approaches at Inquest and Trial
In this post, Helen Waller discusses the case of R (on the application of Wandsworth BC) -v- HM Senior Coroner for Inner West London [2021] EWHC 801 (Admin). The High Court recently dealt with a question that will be of interest to anyone handling cases in the Coronial Courts, but particularly those handling cases of fatal asbestos-related disease. The question was what evidence is required to show that asbestos exposure led to a specific death? The Court made clear that the answer to that question differs depending on whether the question is being asked in the context of a coronial investigation or a civil trial.
R (on the application of Maughan) v Her Majesty’s Senior Coroner for Oxfordshire [2020] UKSC 46
In this blog Edward Ramsay and David Sharpe QC discuss the landmark appeal to the Supreme Court (‘UKSC’) which considered the appropriate standard of proof to be applied when determining coronial conclusions of suicide (and unlawful killing). By a majority, the UKSC dismissed the appeal, holding that the standard of proof for all conclusions at an inquest is the balance of probabilities.
Welcome
Welcome to this blog, where we aim to keep you updated on developments in the law of inquests and public inquiries.
Inquests and Inquiries Law Blog 