Landmark inquest to rule if air pollution killed London pupil – The Guardian

‘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.’

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The Guardian, 30th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

What really happened to Edson Da Costa? – The Guardian

‘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’

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The Guardian, 29th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Family of man killed by convicted terrorist sue UK government – The Guardian

‘The family of a young man stabbed to death by a convicted terrorist are suing the government over alleged failures to manage the attacker in the community.’

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The Guardian, 26th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Elizabeth Dixon death investigation reveals “20-year cover-up” – The Guardian

‘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.’

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The Guardian, 26th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Supreme Court reduces standard of proof for suicide and unlawful killing in inquest conclusions – Park Square Barristers

‘The Supreme Court has on 13 November 2020 handed down the judgment in this case concerning the appropriate standard of proof for conclusions at inquests.’

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Park Square Barristers, 13th November 2020

Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk

Family who fear daughter was killed sue Leeds NHS trust after body decomposes – The Guardian

Posted November 23rd, 2020 in bereavement, coroners, damages, families, hospitals, inquests, negligence, news, unlawful killing by sally

‘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.’

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The Guardian, 23rd November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

More Likely Than Not: The Civil Standard of Proof Applies to All Short-Form and Narrative Conclusions at Inquests – Ropewalk Chambers

Posted November 19th, 2020 in coroners, inquests, news, standard of proof, suicide, Supreme Court, verdicts by sally

‘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.’

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Ropewalk Chambers, 16th November 2020

Source: www.ropewalk.co.uk

Supreme Court lowers standard of proof for inquests – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 17th, 2020 in coroners, inquests, news, standard of proof, suicide, Supreme Court, verdicts by sally

‘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.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 13th November 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Case Comment: R (on the application of Maughan) v HM Senior Coroner for Oxfordshire [2020] UKSC 46 – UKSC Blog

Posted November 17th, 2020 in coroners, inquests, news, suicide, Supreme Court, verdicts by sally

‘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.’

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UKSC Blog, 16th November 2020

Source: ukscblog.com

New Judgment: R (on the application of Maughan) v Her Majesty’s Senior Coroner for Oxfordshire [2020] UKSC 46 – UKSC Blog

‘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.’

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UKSC Blog, 13th November 2020

Source: ukscblog.com

Maughan: Suicide and Unlawful Killing Conclusions in Inquests – UK Human Rights Blog

‘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.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 13th November 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Divisional Court gives guidance on article 2 inquests – UK Human Rights Law Blog

‘R (Peter Skelton and anr) v Senior Coroner for West Sussex [2020] EWHC 2813 (Adminn). Susan Nicholson and Caroline Devlin were killed by the same man during the course of abusive relationships. They died in 2011 and 2006, but the man was not convicted – of murder and manslaughter respectively – until 2017. The inquest into Susan’s death in 2011 resulted in a verdict of accidental death. Following the murder conviction, the Coroner applied to the High Court for this to be quashed, with the intention of holding a short inquest at which a fresh conclusion of “unlawful killing” would be recorded. However, the Claimants in this case – Susan’s parents – sought to expand the scope of the inquest to consider what they thought, understandably, were police failings. They were successful; this blog explains why, and examines the wider implications of the ruling.’

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UK Human Rights Law Blog, 5th November 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Family of mentally ill single mother accuse DWP of failing to protect her – The Guardian

‘The family of a severely mentally ill woman who died after being without disability benefits for several months have accused the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) of failing to safeguard her.’

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The Guardian, 5th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Coroner calls for investigation into toilet freshener’s effect on child’s death – The Guardian

‘A coroner has called for further investigation into whether ingesting a toilet freshener led to the death of a two-year-old girl.’

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The Guardian, 5th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Inappropriate police restraint contributed to the death of Kevin Clarke inquest concludes – Garden Court Chambers

Posted October 29th, 2020 in inquests, mental health, news, police, restraint by sally

‘Kevin Andre Clarke was 35-year-old black man who died after being restrained by police in Lewisham, South London, on 9 March 2018. Kevin had suffered from paranoid schizophrenia since the age of 17 and at the time of his death was experiencing a mental health episode.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 9th October 2020

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Overturning a coroner’s verdict – 5SAH

Posted October 28th, 2020 in appeals, bereavement, chambers articles, coroners, families, inquests, news by sally

‘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?’

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5SAH, 20th October 2020

Source: www.5sah.co.uk

Inquest concludes that fatal stabbing of Bathsheba Shepherd could have been prevented – Garden Court Chambers

‘The family of a vulnerable woman who was killed by her housemate while in supported accommodation have spoken of their loss after an inquest found that her death could have been prevented if effective risk assessments had been carried out.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 5th October 2020

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Alfie Gildea: ‘Danger signs missed’ before baby’s death – BBC News

Posted October 27th, 2020 in child abuse, domestic violence, inquests, news, police, social services by sally

‘Mistakes made by police and other agencies “probably” contributed to the death of a baby boy who was killed by his violent father, an inquest ruled.’

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BBC News, 23rd October 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police ‘failings’ to be considered at new inquest into death of Susan Nicholson – Daily Telegraph

‘The family of a woman murdered by a double killer have won a legal battle for a new inquest into her death to consider potential police failings.’

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Daily Telegraph, 23rd October 2020

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Marian Clode: Woman’s cattle death ruled accidental – BBC News

Posted October 23rd, 2020 in accidents, animals, inquests, news by sally

‘A woman died after a cow charged at her and flipped her over a fence, an inquest has heard.’

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BBC News, 22nd October 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk