FAQs

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What is the purpose of an Inquest?

Coroners are independent judicial officers who work within a legal framework established by Act of Parliament.   A Coroner's inquest is a long-established, tried and tested process for investigating the factual circumstances of a death. It is a limited fact-finding inquiry to establish the answers to:

  • Who the deceased was
  • When and where the death occurred
  • How the deceased came by his or her death
  • Particulars required by the Registration Acts to be registered concerning the death

The proceedings and evidence are aimed solely at ascertaining the answers to these questions.   Expressions of opinion on any other matter - for example, on who might be to blame - are not allowed.   However, the Coroner does have the power to investigate not just the main cause of death, but also "any acts or omissions which directly led to the cause of death".
More information on the role of a Coroner

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When will the Inquest start?

The Inquest hearings will start on 22nd September 2008 at the Oval Conference Centre.

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How long will the Inquest take?

The Inquest will last 12 weeks, beginning on the 22nd September 2008 and ending on the 12th December 2008..

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Where will the proceedings be held?

The Inquest hearing, which will start on the 22nd September 2008, is being held at the Oval Conference Centre, in Kennington, London.

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Will the media have access?

Yes. A limited number of media seats for all hearings will be allocated through the Press Office. A Court annex, with audio and visual links, has been provided to offer additional accommodation.

To apply for a seating pass, reporters and newsdesks should contact the Press Office on 020 7261 8644 or by email at menezes@coi.gsi.gov.uk.

Those attending the Inquest should note that both the courtroom and the court annex are subject to the same restrictions as would apply to normal court proceedings. When the court is sitting the use of mobile telephones, Blackberries, recording equipment, cameras and personal stereos is strictly prohibited. Smoking eating and drinking is also restricted to designated areas within the Oval Conference complex.

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Will the public have access?

Yes. One-day seating passes for the court will be available from outside the Oval at 9:00am. Given the size of the courtroom (and the need to accommodate interested persons, the jury and media representatives), space will by necessity be limited. Additional accomodation with audio and visual links to the court is available in the court annex.

On days when the Inquest is sitting, members of the public should enter the Oval Conference Centre via the Alec Stewart Gate if they have a One-day pass, or via the Hobbs Gate to get to the court annex (Long Room). The gates will open approximately 30 minutes before the inquest begins.

Those attending the Inquest should note that both the courtroom and the court annex are subject to the same restrictions as would apply to normal court proceedings. When the court is sitting the use of mobile telephones, blackberries, recording equipment, cameras and personal stereos is strictly prohibited. Smoking eating and drinking is also restricted to designated areas within the Oval Conference complex.

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Will the transcripts of proceedings and evidence be made public?

The Coroner has said that he intends to publish on this website all evidence heard and seen by the jury during the course of proceedings. It is envisaged that this will take place on a daily basis.

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Who can be called to give evidence in an inquest?

The Coroner is solely responsible for identifying the witnesses to be heard. Witnesses who may be called to give evidence will include those people who can provide material and relevant evidence to help the Coroner to establish the facts they require.

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Can witnesses be compelled to attend or provide evidence for an inquest?

The Coroner can compel witnesses to give evidence if they are in the jurisdiction and are properly summonsed. If witnesses are outside the jurisdiction the Coroner can ask the authorities concerned to exercise their powers, which may vary according to the relevant jurisdiction.

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What are the possible outcomes in an Inquest?

Inquest do not determine blame and the verdict must not identify someone as having criminal or civil liability.

Possible verdicts include: natural causes, accident, suicide, unlawful or lawful killing, industrial disease, and open verdicts (where there is insufficient evidence for any other verdict). There may also be a narrative verdict which sets out in narrative form how the person died.

The Coroner may also report the death to any appropriate person or authority, if action is needed to prevent more deaths in similar circumstances.

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Who may take part in and can be represented at an Inquest?

Anyone who has what is called "a proper interest" may question a witness at the Inquest. They can be:

  • a parent, spouse, child, partner and representing the estate of the deceased;
  • anyone who gains from a life insurance policy on the deceased;
  • any insurer having issued such a policy;
  • anyone whose actions the Coroner believes may have caused or contributed to the death, accidentally or otherwise;
  • the chief officer of police (who may only ask witnesses questions through a lawyer);
  • any person appointed by a government department to attend the inquest;
  • anyone else who the coroner may decide also has a proper interest.

The interested persons for the Inquest into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes were determined by Sir Michael Wright.

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How will the jury be selected?

The procedure for summoning of juries for coroners’ courts is set out in the Coroners Act 1988.

Those selected for jury service must live within the relevant Administrative Area, which for present purposes is Greater London. As a matter of convenience, the Coroner is summoning jurors from his particular district (Inner South London) which comprises of the London Boroughs of Southwark, Lambeth, Greenwich and Lewisham

Jurors must be eligible for jury service (for example people serving prison sentences or having mental disorders are not eligible) as defined in the Juries Act 1974, as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 2003.

Potential jurors are asked “such questions as (the appropriate officer) thinks fit in order to establish whether or not the person is qualified to serve as a juror at an inquest.”

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Does the jury have be to unanimous in its verdict?

The jury will be asked by the Coroner to produce unanimous verdicts. Should that not prove possible, the Coroner will advise the jury on how it might reach majority verdicts. If the minority consists of not more than two jurors, the coroner may accept the verdict of the majority, and the majority shall, in that case, certify the verdict. So for a jury of 11, a majority of 9-2 would suffice.

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