‘An inquest is to consider evidence that illegal levels of air pollution caused the death of a nine-year-old girl, in a landmark legal case.’
The Guardian, 30th November 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘He was 25, a father and a car mechanic. Five minutes after being stopped by police on 15 June 2017, he was lying unresponsive on the ground. After an inquest and inquiry, family and friends are still fighting for justice’
The Guardian, 29th November 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The government has apologised for a “20-year cover-up” over the death of 11-month-old Elizabeth Dixon, whose parents have fought an unrelenting battle for the truth.’
The Guardian, 26th November 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The family of a woman who they suspect was killed is suing a health trust that allegedly stored her corpse incorrectly, allowing it to decompose to the point that experts were unable to rule out third-party involvement in her death, the Guardian can reveal.’
The Guardian, 23rd November 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘By a majority of three to two, the Supreme Court has held that the standard of proof for findings of suicide and unlawful killing at an inquest is the balance of probabilities: R (Maughan) v Her Majesty’s Senior Coroner for Oxfordshire [2020]
UKSC 46.’
Ropewalk Chambers, 16th November 2020
Source: www.ropewalk.co.uk
‘The Supreme Court has today lowered the standard of proof for all conclusions in inquest proceedings, including unlawful killing and suicide, in a decision that could have wide-reaching implications for the recording of deaths in England and Wales.’
Law Society's Gazette, 13th November 2020
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘The Supreme Court has given judgment in R (on the application of Maughan) v HM Senior Coroner for Oxfordshire [2020] UKSC 46, a case dealing with the applicable standard of proof for reaching a narrative verdict of suicide or unlawful killing. A detailed case preview by my colleague Tim James-Matthews is available here, as a useful starting point for the issues arising in the appeal. By a 3-2 majority (with Lady Arden giving the leading judgment), the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, holding that the applicable standard of proof is the civil standard (i.e. the balance of probabilities). Lord Kerr gave the dissenting judgment, with which Lord Reed agreed: they would both have allowed the appeal.’
UKSC Blog, 16th November 2020
Source: ukscblog.com
‘By a majority the Supreme Court has dismissed this appeal concerning 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.’
UKSC Blog, 13th November 2020
Source: ukscblog.com
‘The Supreme Court has now issued its judgment in this important case for Coroners and inquests dealing with the standard of proof to be applied where the death might have been caused by suicide or unlawful killing.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 13th November 2020
Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com
‘A coroner has called for further investigation into whether ingesting a toilet freshener led to the death of a two-year-old girl.’
The Guardian, 5th November 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Why is it so difficult to overturn a coroner’s verdict at inquest level? And are coroners entitled to reach the decisions they do with regards the scope of the inquest?’
5SAH, 20th October 2020
Source: www.5sah.co.uk
‘The family of a teenager found dead 11 days after going missing nearly three years ago said “vital questions” about her death remain unanswered.’
BBC News, 16th September 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Matt Hill of 1 Crown Office Row discusses with Rosalind English the inquest into Dawn Sturgess, the innocent victim of the attempted assassination of a Russian agent. He considers the different approaches of the coronial and criminal jurisdictions where someone has died in suspicious circumstances.’
Law Pod UK, 7th September 2020
Source: audioboom.com
‘Caroline Flack took her own life after learning she would be prosecuted for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend, following a long struggle with “fluctuating mental health” that was exacerbated by the stress of fame, a coroner has found.’
The Guardian, 6th August 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The High Court has today [24 July] handed down a judgment quashing a coroner’s decision on the scope of the inquest into the death of Dawn Sturgess: R (GS) v HM Senior Coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon [2020] EWHC 2007 (Admin).’
UK Human Rights Blog, 24th July 2020
Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com
‘The daughter of a woman killed by a nerve agent wants her mother’s inquest to consider whether senior members of the Russian state were responsible.’
BBC News, 14th July 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘In R (Maguire) v HM Senior Coroner for Blackpool & Fylde & Others [2020] EWCA Civ 738, the Court of Appeal considered whether the enhanced procedural duty to investigate death under Article 2 ECHR applied to the inquest touching upon the death of a vulnerable individual subject to the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (“DoLS”) under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 living in a care home. The Court of Appeal’s judgment is an important authority on the scope of the substantive positive duties on the state to protect life under Article 2 ECHR.’
Dispute Resolution Blog, 30th June 2020
Source: www.lexisnexis.co.uk
‘The Chief Coroner has published his Guidance No 38, headed “Remote Participation in Coronial Proceedings via Video and Audio Broadcast”.’
Parklane Plowden Chambers, 17th June 2020
Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk
‘Corporate Crime analysis: Coronavirus (COVID-19) has impacted all parts of the justice system, but there are particular ramifications for a jurisdiction which has as its core purpose the investigation of deaths. Therefore, by means of the Coronavirus Act 2020 (CA 2020) and guidance issued by the Chief Coroner, various measures have been taken to ensure that coroners’ courts are not overwhelmed. Matthew E Flinn, barrister at 1 Crown Office Row, discusses these measures.’
1 Crown Office Row, 27th May 2020
Source: www.1cor.com
‘Concerns have been raised, not least by the bereaved families of key-workers in the frontline, about the possible link between workplace exposure to coronavirus and COVID-19 deaths. The Chief Coroner has now published his Guidance Note No 37 on whether, and how, coronial investigations into such deaths should be opened. This development highlights the likelihood that Coroners’ Courts will be the first fora in which issues over the adequacy and quality of the protection available to workers (whether by PPE or workplace procedures) will be investigated publicly. Given the significance of such issues, it is essential that organisations are prepared for such investigations and inquests.’
Henderson Chambers, 10th May 2020
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