Inquest
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- For the gaming magazine, see InQuest Gamer.
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An inquest is a formal process of state investigation. A common type of inquest is a medical examination of any cause of death under suspicious circumstances. Larger inquests can be held into disasters, or into cases of corruption.
[edit] Inquests in jurisdictions based on British laws
In jurisdictions under the Westminster system, the process of inquest into any death not due to natural causes is the responsibility of a special non-criminal court called the Coroner's Court under the supervision of the Coroner. In Scotland the equivalent term is a Fatal Accident Inquiry, and the majority of deaths are investigated and signed off by the area Procurator Fiscal.
Individuals with an interest in the proceedings, such as relatives of the deceased, individuals appearing as witnesses, and organisations or individuals who may face some responsibility in the death of the individual, may be represented by lawyers at the discretion of the coroner. Witnesses may be compelled to testify subject to protection against self-incrimination.
Some inquests take place before a jury.
At the conclusion of the inquest, the coroner, or jury, considers the evidence and gives a verdict representing their judgment as to the cause of death. This may be accompanied by findings that individuals or organisations are in some way responsible for the death, in which case it may be recommended that criminal charges should be laid. The finding may be that a death was accidental. If no reliable conclusion can be reached about the reason for a death, an open verdict is returned. If the inquest reveals that changes to the practices of government or non-governmental organisations are required to prevent such deaths in the future, the findings may include recommendations that such changes be made.
Coroners record their verdicts; juries return verdicts.
If an open verdict is returned, the inquest can be reopened if new evidence is found and presented to the coroner.
The qualifications required of coroners vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Originally, coroners did not always have legal training. However, in cases where a suspicion of foul play exists, coroners must instruct juries about the relevant law. Inquests by coroners without legal training commonly led to incorrect findings; consequently, some jurisdictions require coroners to have studied and practised law.
[edit] In popular culture
- DaVinci's Inquest was a long-running CBC drama featuring the Vancouver coroner.
