Non-motoring > Any One Been to An Inquest - What to Expect? Miscellaneous
Thread Author: zippy Replies: 14
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New Mon 2 Jan 23 12:54 
 Any One Been to An Inquest - What to Expect? - zippy
I feel the need to go to one that starts this March. What are the protocols?

I suspect the young (28) wealthy (self made £1m+ TNW) deceased will be declared a suicide. Friends, relatives and business partners of the deceased are of the opinion that their spouse drove them to it. Can that be raised as a factor?

I have known the deceased since just before they got married (3 years). Seemingly a happy, skilled, capable and very intelligent individual.

I have know the surviving spouse for 10 years. I wouldn't put it past them. I have always made a point of never being alone in a room with them.
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New Mon 2 Jan 23 13:47 
 Any One Been to An Inquest - What to Expect? - Bromptonaut
Can you expand on 'their spouse drove them to it'?

Others here will no more than I do but I suspect that any lines of inquiry will be investigated by Police/Coroners Officers before the inquest.

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New Mon 2 Jan 23 14:05 
 Any One Been to An Inquest - What to Expect? - zippy
>> Can you expand on 'their spouse drove them to it'?
>>

I have known the spouse for 10 years and they have always targeted wealthy individuals (4).

One of the individuals complained about constant "gas-lighting", denied permission to see friends and family, general bullying and denial of use of their bank accounts.

Spouse has a highly skilled profession which probably makes them an expert in gas-lighting.
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New Mon 2 Jan 23 15:32 
 Any One Been to An Inquest - What to Expect? - Ted

I've attended many inquests after sudden death reports, including suicides. There may be legal representation from family or spouse. Make your concerns known to the police, they may take a statement from you and investigate further. The Coroner will ask you questions if he deems you an important party in the proceedings but I wouldn't mention your concerns unless asked. You may leave yourself open to some sort of action by the spouse, who will, no doubt, be there.

Good luck.

Ted
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New Mon 2 Jan 23 17:21 
 Any One Been to An Inquest - What to Expect? - R.P.
What Ted says really.

I've attended numerous inquests over the years, including, sadly my first wife's - it's a reltively simple enquiry, my own Local Authority describes the inquest as:-

Who the deceased was
When, where and how he or she came by the medical cause of death
When a conclusion is reached, the coroner records the details needed for the registration of the death.

Seems the processes have now changed where Coroner has its own dedicated investigators rather than Police Officers. We ( My sisters and I) were e-mailed blank statement forms (MG11s) in respect of my father's death in Feb 2022 and expected to complete these without any real guidence - only my own professional experience guided me. It appears his inquest is delayed now pending a response from the Care Home. In the old days the Police's Coroner's Officers would have made this enquiries. These posts now appear to have gone from my local Police Force.

The inquest won't be a place to level allegations of gas-lighting etc.





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New Mon 2 Jan 23 17:14 
 Any One Been to An Inquest - What to Expect? - Bromptonaut
One of the individuals complained about constant "gas-lighting", denied permission to see friends and family,
>> general bullying and denial of use of their bank accounts.

Those are all red lights for an abusive relationship:

www.nhs.uk/live-well/getting-help-for-domestic-violence/

There's been an ad on telly in the last week or so where the subject's strings are being pulled and bank cards, phones etc dangled in front of them and withdrawn.
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New Mon 2 Jan 23 17:48 
 Any One Been to An Inquest - What to Expect? - zippy
>>Those are all red lights for an abusive relationship:

Yes aware of these. We have awareness courses at work for this sort of thing.

Not seen the ads but will look out for them - have been recording all we want to watch and zoom through the ads.

The first "victim" is a lovely person & are good friends with Miss Z. They are quarter heir to a business that many here are likely to use their products and in real money terms - Euro Millions lottery winning amounts TNW - which is why I believe they were targeted.
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New Mon 2 Jan 23 18:26 
 Any One Been to An Inquest - What to Expect? - CGNorwich
If you believe a crime has been committed you need to tell the police. Of course you will need to substantiate any accusation.
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New Mon 2 Jan 23 18:35 
 Any One Been to An Inquest - What to Expect? - MD
TNW. Apologies if I'm being thick.
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New Mon 2 Jan 23 18:40 
 Any One Been to An Inquest - What to Expect? - sooty123
Amount of dosh, tangible net worth.
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New Mon 2 Jan 23 18:41 
 Any One Been to An Inquest - What to Expect? - MD
Ta.
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New Mon 2 Jan 23 18:51 
 Any One Been to An Inquest - What to Expect? - Terry
There are only a limited number of verdicts a coroner can normally give: natural causes; accident; suicide; unlawful or lawful killing; industrial disease and open verdicts.

It is not a trial and the corner cannot give a sentence.

Typically the police or HSE will follow up on some of these if in their judgement it is necessary.

My simple advice would be to respond honestly to all questions asked of you. Be clear whether your evidence is based personal observation, or inference and assumption. Avoid raising other issues unless you have substantial justification that a wrong verdict may otherwise result.
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New Mon 2 Jan 23 19:17 
 Any One Been to An Inquest - What to Expect? - Manatee
>>It is not a trial

But it is a fact finding exercise so I suppose anyone who has relevant knowledge and hasn't been pulled in as a witness should put their hand up. Not at the inquest perhaps, but beforehand and if it is reasonable suspicion of a crime related to the death that would seem to be a matter for the police.
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New Mon 2 Jan 23 20:08 
 Any One Been to An Inquest - What to Expect? - Fullchat
I was latterly involved in the force roll out of DASH risk assessment training. Basically the deeper awareness of what to look for in DV attendence. It also involved the completion of the DASH risk assessment form - 27 questions/observetions.

DV crosses all social classes and tends to be more hidden the higher up the scale.

www.shropshire.gov.uk/media/10021/dash-risk-assessment-guidance.pdf

The form would then be risk assessed and graded by specialist DV Officers. There was initially some reluctance to increasd accountability and workload. BUT the big selling point ultimately was that it was a massive back protector if embraced. When it all goes wrong the Serious Case and Domestic Homicide Reviews wont care a rats bottom about "I was busy and didnt have time" Weve all heard those immortal words "Lessons have been learned".

Anyway back to the original question. Yes I've been to a few throughout my career. The purpose of the inquest is (a) to identify the medical cause of death, and (b) to answer four questions: who died, when and where did they die, and (perhaps most important of all) how did they come by their death, and (c) come to a conclusion about their death.

They are to establish cause of death as opposed to criminal process.

Someone acting on behalf of the Coroner will (used to be and is often the Police) will have obtained relevent antecedent histories and statements from persons connected with the deceased at the time of and after death, such as a pathologist if there has been a PM. The idea is to build a picture of the deceased and consequences to be able to categorise a cause of death.

Coroners Courts are not quite as formal as Judicial Courts but have silmilar protocols. Anyone can attend to observe proceedings. Those wih an interest can ask suitable questions via legal representation (I'm not certain if this extends further than than persons suitably qualified.)

Certain statements can be verbalised by the Coroner rather than witnesses attending. Witnesses can be questioned by the Coroner and any other representation.

If anything comes to light during the inquest then it would be reported back to the relevent authorities.

In the case highlighted if there are any legitimate concerns then these should be highlighted to the Coroners Officer sooner rather than later. I believe a legal representaive of the family could ask appropriate questions at the inquest.

Last edited by: Fullchat on Mon 2 Jan 23 at 20:12
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New Wed 4 Jan 23 09:26 
 Any One Been to An Inquest - What to Expect? - R.P.
Interesting read. When I worked for Victim Support I was trained in the DASH RA. As well as reading and checking front line Officer's reports, we were expected to conduct our own DASH interviews - being a rare beast in VS work ( male) I have to admit that I asked every female that I dealt with whether they wanted a female case-worker, none ever opted for it. I found the coversations always very sad. We stopped dealing with them when we hit a score of 15 and they were then passed on to a Police unit. North Wales Police were pretty good in their initial scoring and in dealing with the ongoing victim. I got sick of it in the end and went to drive vans for a living.
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