Law - coroners - sudden death investigations

Coroners are independent judicial officers appointed by the local authority to investigate any death which is violent, unnatural, sudden or unexplained or occurs in prison.

Coroners in England and Wales investigate violent and unnatural deaths or sudden deaths where the cause is unknown. However, an inquest is not necessary if a sudden death was due to natural causes; instead the coroner may order a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death. The coroner must hold an inquest if the person died a violent or unnatural death or died in prison or in other specified circumstances. It is the duty of the coroner's court to establish how, when and where the person died. A coroner may sit alone or, in certain circumstances, with a jury. If the coroner has reason to suspect murder, suicide, manslaughter or infanticide, or that the death was caused by a road accident, he or she must summon a jury.

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None.

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Update or Full Response within 10 working days

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