Coroner’s Inquests

Our barristers are frequently instructed to act for interested persons at a wide range of inquests, both before a Coroner alone and those held with juries.

Members of Chambers have considerable experience of acting for employers, corporations, individuals, medical practitioners, bereaved families and public authorities at Coroners Inquests.

Inquests are often highly significant where there is an ongoing, or potential, investigation by the police, HSE or professional discipline agencies or where there are potential civil proceedings following a fatality.

High profile inquests in which members of Chambers have appeared include the inquest into the death of Harold Shipman in Wakefield prison, the inquest into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes who was shot by police officers at Stockwell tube station, the inquest following the death of Amitai Moshe – the young child who died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome shortly after a Jewish ceremony of circumcision, the Lakanal inquest into the multiple deaths that occurred as a result of the tower block fire in Southwark and the M5 fog/fireworks inquests into the multiple fatalities that occurred in thick fog on a section of the motorway that adjoined the site of a fireworks display.

Instructions are often received to attend an inquest on behalf of a medical practitioner in advance of possible disciplinary or criminal proceedings; on behalf of members of the security services and police following a fatal shooting; and on behalf of employers following a work-related death investigation.

Latest Coroner’s Inquests news and publications