72 results
19 Sep 2019 09:09
Recovering Inquest Costs in Civil ClaimsFullick v The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2019] EWHC 1941 (QB), 25 July 2019 (judgment here) The funding of representation for the bereaved at inquests is not just an un-level playing field, but a total quagmire often more akin to the aftermath of an outing of the 1988 Pontypool front more...
17 Sep 2019 10:36
Managing tricky inquest applications: Anonymity, bad character and propensity evidenceProcedural Notes from the ‘Birmingham Pub Bombings’ and ‘Deepcut’ Inquests We all like a free helping hand, and so at the UKIL Blog we are happy to be able to share with the blogosphere the recent wisdom of two ‘Judge Coroners’ who have drawn up route maps to determining complicated procedural more...
16 Sep 2019 14:38
The recoverability of inquest costs in civil actionsThe case of Fullick v The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2019] EWHC 1941 (QB) concerned an appeal of a Deputy Master’s order that the MET Commissioner pay the claimants' costs in the sum of £88,356.22, following the settlement of a contemplated civil claim for damages for breach of more...
5 Sep 2019 15:00
“Flagrant disregard for the inquest and its processes” - fines, prosecution and double jeopardyR v Lawrence [2019] Wimbledon Magistrates Court The unprecedented tale of “Dr.” Duncan Lawrence and his withholding of information from a coroner about his involvement in the death of the teenager Sophie Bennett has already gripped the headlines. This highly unusual criminal prosecution of a more...
1 Aug 2019 13:45
Over half a century later it’s still in the interest of justice to order a fresh inquestFrost v HM Coroner for West Yorkshire (Eastern District) [2019] EWHC 1100, 8 May 2019, (judgment here). Where new evidence becomes available which renders an inquest’s factual basis inaccurate the interests of justice remain the touchstone for applications under section 13: even the passage of over more...
17 Jul 2019 10:53
The Inquests concerning the deaths of the attackers who carried out the London Bridge and Borough Market Terror Attack concluded 16th JulyThe Inquests concerning the deaths of the attackers who carried out the London Bridge and Borough Market Terror Attack has today (16 July) concluded at the Old Bailey. HHJ Lucraft QC also heard the victims’ Inquests in Court 1 at the Old Bailey, and concluded those on 28 June 2019. The attackers’ more...
4 Jul 2019 10:56
Gross misconduct proceedings against police driver suspended following submissions by Mark AldredIn 2017 Police driver PC Russell Kyle was involved in a collision with a pedestrian while responding to reports of a group of marauding males armed with an axe and a hammer. Mark Aldred defended PC Kyle at Lewes Crown Court against criminal charges relating to the collision, where PC Kyle was handed more...
1 Jul 2019 09:59
Susan Jones represents former construction company director in InquestSusan Jones represented the former managing director of a small construction company, in a Jury inquest touching the death of a sub contractor who fell from a ladder on a construction site. The Jury heard that there had been breaches of safe working practices and that a colleague saw the deceased more...
24 Jun 2019 11:14
Geoff Gray Inquest: Coroner returns a conclusion of ‘suicide’Inquest into the death of Geoff Gray, 20 June 2019 (Record of Inquest here) The long running second inquest into the death of Private Geoff Gray at Deepcut Barracks ended yesterday when HH Peter Rook QC[1] returned a conclusion of suicide. Geoff was only 17 years old when he was found dead from more...
28 May 2019 10:42
Dishonesty to Coroners and Professional SanctionsThe Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care v (1) NMC (2) Anne Ndlovu 9 May 2019 EWHC 1181 (Admin) judgment here It is rare that healthcare staff are seriously dishonest in their evidence to an inquest, although sadly such conduct does at times happen. Even when criminal more...
15 May 2019 09:51
Jason Beer QC and Andrew Waters appear in Hillsborough health and safety caseJason Beer QC and Andrew Waters (with Simon Antrobus of Crown Office Chambers) instructed by Kieran Walshe, Head of Professional Indemnity and Commercial at DWF LLP, represented Graham Mackrell in criminal proceedings arising from the Hillsborough Disaster on 15th April 1989. Mr Mackrell was the more...
13 May 2019 12:01
Colin Banham successfully argues for Police Officer’s reinstatementCounsel at No5 Barristers’ Chambers has successfully appealed against the dismissal of a Custody Sergeant. The officer was formally reinstated after a hearing before the Police Appeals’ Tribunal. Colin Banham represented Sgt Colin Travi at the Police Appeals’ Tribunal. The long-serving officer had more...
11 Apr 2019 12:06
Conclusion of the inquest into the death of Alexander DowdsThe Senior Coroner for Suffolk delivered his conclusions in the inquest into the death of Alexander Dowds. Mr Dowds was hit by a car on the A14 near Ipswich on 15 March 2017. Earlier that day, Mr Dowds had been given a lift home by police officers from Suffolk Constabulary. The officers more...
11 Apr 2019 12:04
Birmingham Pub Bombings ConclusionThe inquests into the deaths of the 21 victims of the 1974 Birmingham Pub Bombings has concluded today after more than 5 weeks of hearings. Jeremy Johnson QC and Robert Cohen acted on behalf of the Chief Constable of West Midlands Police. The inquests were resumed by the Senior Coroner for more...
9 Apr 2019 08:23
Hospital deaths and Article 2 inquestsThis article was originally published in AvMA Lawyers Service Newsletter April 2019. Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights provides that:- ‘Everyone’s right to life shall be protected by law. No one shall be deprived of his life intentionally save in the execution of a sentence of a more...
8 Apr 2019 09:31
Considering the Consequences of Delay when Cause of Death is UnknownR (Chidlow) v HM Coroner for Blackpool and Fylde & Others [2019] EWHC 581 (Admin) Human bodies being such complex things it is unsurprising medical causation is often extremely complicated. Legal causation of medical injury is a minefield for clinical negligence lawyers to navigate: “indivisible more...
1 Apr 2019 11:37
Consultation starts as to whether to alter the law to allow inquests into stillbirthsThere has recently been welcome news with the Health Secretary starting a consultation on whether to conduct inquests into stillbirths, the aim being to reduce baby deaths. UK stillbirth rates remain high compared with many similar European countries with the NHS reporting that stillbirth occurs in more...
20 Mar 2019 11:12
Jury returns Narrative Conclusion in Renewed Inquest into 1997 Police PursuitJury returns Narrative Conclusion in Renewed Inquest into 1997 Police Pursuit Following the High Court’s decision in Ann Power v Her Majesty’s Senior Coroner for Inner North London and (1) The Commissioner for Police of the Metropolis and (2) Stephen Collier [2017] EWHC 3177, to quash the original more...
20 Mar 2019 11:11
Victoria Von Wachter represents West Midlands Police in disciplinary hearing.Victoria Von Wachter represents West Midlands Police in disciplinary hearing regarding Police Officers sharing extreme porn and race hate videos on Whatsapp. Ms Von Wachter said “The videos sent were of an extreme and violent pornographic nature. There were a large number of videos and images more...
20 Mar 2019 11:01
The Equality and Human Rights Commission publishes damning review into the Grenfell Tower FireOn 14 June 2017, a catastrophic fire swept through Grenfell Tower, in the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (“RBKC”). The fire claimed the lives of 72 people, traumatised and rendered homeless scores of others, who remain deeply affected by what happened. In May 2018, a public inquiry, more...
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