Are civil proceedings dependent on the outcome of the inquest?
No. Because of the limited nature of the inquest, its outcome does not dictate whether or not there can be subsequent civil proceedings for damages. However, the evidence given at the inquest may be very important and may form the basis of a subsequent civil trial. The inquest will probably be the only opportunity that the deceased’s family will have to ask questions of the witnesses and to get answers given under oath about the circumstances leading to the death so from that point of view alone it is an important opportunity.
