What happens if somebody has been charged with causing the death?
Where a person has been sent for trial for causing a death, for example by murder, manslaughter, infanticide or certain types of road traffic deaths, the inquest is adjourned until the criminal trial is over. On adjourning an inquest, the coroner sends the registrar a certificate stating the particulars that are needed to register the death and for a death certificate to be issued. When the trial is over, and the coroner is informed of the outcome, he will decide whether or not to resume the inquest. There may be no need, if all the facts surrounding the death have emerged at the trial and in such cases the coroner will send another certificate to the registrar of deaths, confirming the outcome of the crown court trial. If the inquest is resumed, however, the finding of the inquest as to the cause of death cannot be inconsistent with the outcome of the criminal trial. Evidence at inquest – oaths and affirmations; documentary evidence At inquests, evidence has to be ‘sworn’ and therefor
