FACTS TO KNOW ABOUT CORONER'S INQUEST
A coroner’s inquest is a formal judicial investigation conducted by a coroner to determine the cause and circumstances of a person's death, especially if the death was sudden, unexplained, violent, or occurred under suspicious circumstances. Key Points About a Coroner’s Inquest: Purpose: To establish who the deceased was, when and where they died, and how the death occurred. Not a trial: It's a fact-finding exercise, not to assign blame or guilt, but to determine the facts surrounding the death. May involve a jury: In some jurisdictions, a jury may be called, especially for deaths in custody, public interest cases, or where required by law. Evidence is presented: Witnesses may be called to testify, and medical reports, police reports, and other relevant evidence may be reviewed. Possible verdicts (now called findings or determinations): Natural causes Accident or misadventure Suicide Unlawful killing (e.g., murder or manslaughter) Open verdict (when the cause cannot be determin...