Theresa May admits justice system fails families over deaths in police custody – The Guardian

‘The criminal justice system makes is too hard for families whose loved ones have died in police custody to get answers, according to a candid letter written by the home secretary to two families affected by such deaths.’

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The Guardian, 19th April 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Martyn Uzzell A65 death: North Yorkshire County Council settles with widow – BBC News

Posted April 8th, 2015 in bereavement, bicycles, compensation, inquests, local government, news, roads by sally

‘The widow of a cyclist who died after he hit a pothole on his bike has received a six-figure payout from a council.’

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BBC News, 8th April 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

McCann ‘Twitter troll’ Brenda Leyland ‘killed herself’ – BBC News

Posted March 23rd, 2015 in inquests, internet, media, news, public interest, suicide by sally

‘A woman who “trolled” Madeleine McCann’s family on Twitter killed herself days after she was challenged by reporters, an inquest concluded.’

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BBC News, 20th March 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Hillsborough inquests: Assessing David Duckenfield’s evidence – BBC News

Posted March 19th, 2015 in evidence, health & safety, inquests, news, police, sport by sally

‘Police match commander David Duckenfield spent a week in the witness box at the new inquests into the Hillsborough disaster. But what were the key parts of his evidence, and what have we learned?’

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BBC News, 19th March 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Do not resuscitate order not to blame for patient death, coroner rules – The Guardian

Posted March 19th, 2015 in health, hospital orders, inquests, negligence, news by sally

‘A great-grandfather who died after hospital staff decided without consultation that he should not be resuscitated was not neglected because medics were following guidelines, a coroner has concluded.’

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The Guardian, 18th March 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Mental Capacity Law Newsletter – Thirty Nine Essex Street

Mental Capacity Law Newsletter (PDF)

Thirty Nine Essex Street, February 2015

Source: www.39essex.com

Plymouth Taser officer cleared of misconduct – BBC News

Posted March 9th, 2015 in inquests, news, police, professional conduct, weapons by sally

‘A police officer who Tasered a petrol-soaked man who then caught fire and died has been cleared of misconduct.’

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BBC News, 7th March 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Regina (Letts) v Lord Chancellor (Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening) – WLR Daily

Regina (Letts) v Lord Chancellor (Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening) [2015] EWHC 402 (Admin); [2015] WLR (D) 90

‘The Lord Chancellor’s Exceptional Funding Guidance (Inquests) (promulgated under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012) was unlawful in that it provided a misleading impression of the law for caseworkers considering an application from relatives of a deceased for legal aid to cover representation at an inquest into a death which arose in circumstances which might have engaged article 2 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.’

WLR Daily, 20th February 2015

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

More bereaved families to get legal aid at inquests if state was involved in death – The Guardian

‘More bereaved families will be entitled to legal aid at inquests after a high court judge ruled that official guidance on whether to provide support was “misleading and inaccurate”.’

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The Guardian, 20th February 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

MoD faces tribunal challenge from whistleblower doctor sacked by text – The Guardian

‘An experienced doctor, who has questioned the official explanation for the death of weapons expert David Kelly, was dismissed by text and email while on a family holiday after he blew the whistle about alleged discrepancies in the dispensing of strong painkillers at an army base.’

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The Guardian, 30th January 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lee Balkwell concrete mixer death: Family awarded £12,000 – BBC News

‘The family of a man found dead in a concrete mixer in Essex has been awarded £12,000 in compensation.’

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BBC News, 30th January 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Recovering Inquest Costs in Civil Proceedings – Zenith PI Blog

Posted December 17th, 2014 in costs, damages, disclosure, inquests, legal representation, murder, news, proportionality by sally

The Senior Court Cost Office has handed down a decision in the above case offering additional guidance as to when and what costs of attending an inquest can be recovered in subsequent civil proceedings.

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Zenith PI Blog, 17th December 2014

Source: www.zenithpi.wordpress.com

Jimmy Mubenga’s widow shocked as security guards cleared of manslaughter – The Guardian

‘The widow of Jimmy Mubenga, the Angolan man who died after being physically restrained on a deportation flight, said she was “shocked and disappointed” by the acquittal of three private security guards who were charged with his killing.’

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The Guardian, 16th December 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Jordan Begley death: Media can name Taser officers after 2 February – BBC News

Posted December 16th, 2014 in anonymity, appeals, firearms, inquests, news, police by sally

‘Five police officers who wanted anonymity at an inquest into a man shot with a Taser will be named unless they win an appeal, a coroner has ruled.’

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BBC News, 15th December 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Statement from the Director of Public Prosecutions on Eleanor de Freitas – CPS News Brief

‘Eleanor de Freitas’ tragic death was just days before she was due to stand trial for perverting the course of justice. The pending inquest will deal with the circumstances surrounding her death and I do not want to interfere with that process. However the case has understandably raised questions about private prosecutions in these types of cases and why the CPS took over and continued this particular case.’

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CPS News Brief, 9th December 2014

Source: http://blog.cps.gov.uk

Why do we ignore the mental health aspects of crime? – BBC News

‘When 16-year-old Will Cornick admitted murdering the schoolteacher Ann Maguire, the reaction was one of shock and bewilderment.’

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BBC News, 3rd December 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Deepcut soldier Cheryl James’ family in body exhumation plea – BBC News

Posted December 2nd, 2014 in armed forces, bullying, burials and cremation, inquests, news, young persons by sally

‘Lawyers for the family of a soldier who died at Deepcut Barracks have asked a judge to request her body’s exhumation.’

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BBC News, 1st December 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Hospital had no plan to tackle autistic woman’s weight gain, coroner rules – The Guardian

Posted November 25th, 2014 in autism, health, hospitals, inquests, news, obesity by sally

‘A 25-year-old woman with severe autism died in a secure hospital after staff allowed her weight to balloon to 25 stone as she sat alone for years in a padded room, a coroner has ruled.’

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The Guardian, 24th November 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Too many prisoners jailed unnecessarily, says review head – The Guardian

‘The unnecessary jailing of too many people in England and Wales is leaving resources stretched and vulnerable inmates unsupervised, the head of a review into prison suicides has said.’

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The Guardian, 14th November 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

DPP orders inquiry into alleged rape victim suicide case – BBC News

‘An investigation has been launched into why a woman was prosecuted over an alleged false rape claim – and then killed herself. Eleanor de Freitas, 23, had bipolar disorder, and left notes saying she was frightened of going to court. She said she had been raped but faced trial for allegedly perverting the course of justice.’

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BBC News, 7th November 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk