Widow leads fight over smart motorways after landmark crash inquest – The Independent

‘The widow of a motorist who died on a smart motorway is leading the fight to have them banned after a coroner concluded they pose “an ongoing risk of future deaths”.’

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The Independent, 23rd January 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Met police officer faces new hearing over death of mentally ill black man – The Guardian

‘A senior police officer cleared of misconduct over the high-profile death of a mentally ill black man is to face fresh disciplinary proceedings because of failings in the original case, the Observer can reveal.’

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The Guardian, 24th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Standard of Proof and the Chief Coroner’s Law Sheet No.6 – Maughan and Beyond – Parklane Plowden Chambers

‘On 13th January 2021, the new Chief Coroner, HHJ Teague QC, published Law Sheet No.6. This new guidance comes exactly two months after the Supreme Court gave judgment on 13th November 2020 in the case of R (on the application of Thomas Maughan) v. HM Senior Coroner for Oxfordshire [2020] UKSC 46 where it ruled by majority that all conclusions in coronial inquests, whether short form or narrative, are to be determined on the civil standard of proof: the balance of probabilities.’

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Parklane Plowden Chambers, 19th January 2021

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk

Joy Morgan: Murdered student ‘may have been given drugs without knowing’ – BBC News

Posted January 21st, 2021 in drug abuse, inquests, murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘A student murdered by a fellow church member may have been given drugs without her knowing, an inquest heard.’

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BBC News, 20th January 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Rare inquests into UK Covid deaths raise concerns over care failings – The Guardian

Posted January 19th, 2021 in care homes, coronavirus, inquests, news, reports by sally

‘A series of healthcare failures that could lead to more people dying from Covid-19 were highlighted by a coroner during rare inquests into deaths in the first wave of the pandemic.’

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The Guardian, 18th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Families of citizens dying after contact with police still await justice – The Guardian

‘Relatives of people who have died after contact with the police have told of their distrust in and dissatisfaction with the ability of the complaints system to help deliver justice.’

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The Guardian, 18th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Errol Graham: Starved man’s family take benefits case to court – BBC News

‘The family of a mentally ill man who starved to death after his benefits were stopped will take on the government at the High Court later.’

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BBC News, 12th January 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

A duty of care – what does the new standard of proof in inquests mean? – 5SAH

‘On the 11th of July 2016 a prisoner Mr James Maughan was found dead in his prison cell having hanged himself. The investigation into the factual circumstances surrounding his death found that he had a history of mental health issues and had previously made threats of self-harm. The evening before his death he had been in an agitated state.’

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5SAH, 7th January 2021

Source: www.5sah.co.uk

Air pollution death ruling: What comes next? – BBC News

‘For the first time in the UK – and possibly the world – air pollution has been recognised as a cause of a person’s death. But was the ruling just a one-off? And what does it mean for others?’

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BBC News, 17th December 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Air pollution a cause in girl’s death, coroner rules in landmark case – The Guardian

Posted December 17th, 2020 in children, environmental health, inquests, news, pollution by tracey

‘A coroner has made legal history by ruling that air pollution was a cause of the death of a nine-year-old girl.’

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The Guardian, 16th December 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Teenager stabbed mother more than 100 times, inquest told – The Guardian

Posted December 15th, 2020 in autism, families, inquests, news, unlawful killing by tracey

‘A teenager stabbed their mother more than 100 times before dialling 999 and calmly telling police to “bring a body bag”, an inquest heard.’

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The Guardian, 14th December 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Birmingham wall collapse deaths: Recycling firms to be charged – BBC News

‘Two recycling companies and two people linked to them are to be charged over the deaths of five African men who died when a concrete wall fell on them.’

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BBC News, 1st December 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Landmark inquest to rule if air pollution killed London pupil – The Guardian

‘An inquest is to consider evidence that illegal levels of air pollution caused the death of a nine-year-old girl, in a landmark legal case. A coroner will be asked to rule that toxic levels of nitrogen dioxide, from the South Circular road in south London, led to the acute asthma attack that killed the primary school pupil, Ella Kissi-Debrah. Her mother, Rosamund, a former teacher, has fought for years for an inquiry into the role of air pollution from traffic in Ella’s death.’

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The Guardian, 30th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Guildford pub bomb police took action to keep files closed – BBC News

‘The police force investigating the Guildford pub bombs has been accused of a conflict of interest after it took legal action to keep archives closed. More than 700 files on the 1974 IRA bombs had been due to open this year but were retained by the Home Office. Inquest papers have shown Surrey Police applied for the files to stay closed.’

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BBC news, 2nd December 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Suicide and the burden of proof – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 1st, 2020 in burden of proof, coroners, inquests, news, standard of proof, suicide by sally

‘Although suicide was decriminalised more than 60 years ago, it was still always necessary to meet the criminal standard of proof when reaching a finding that someone had taken their own life. But this month, in a departure from this common understanding, the Supreme Court in R (Maughan) v HM Coroner for Oxfordshire [2020] UKSC 46 found that the ‘degree of conclusivity’ required was, in fact, the civil standard – the balance of probabilities.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 30th November 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Landmark inquest to rule if air pollution killed London pupil – The Guardian

‘An inquest is to consider evidence that illegal levels of air pollution caused the death of a nine-year-old girl, in a landmark legal case.’

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The Guardian, 30th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

What really happened to Edson Da Costa? – The Guardian

‘He was 25, a father and a car mechanic. Five minutes after being stopped by police on 15 June 2017, he was lying unresponsive on the ground. After an inquest and inquiry, family and friends are still fighting for justice’

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The Guardian, 29th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Family of man killed by convicted terrorist sue UK government – The Guardian

‘The family of a young man stabbed to death by a convicted terrorist are suing the government over alleged failures to manage the attacker in the community.’

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The Guardian, 26th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Elizabeth Dixon death investigation reveals “20-year cover-up” – The Guardian

‘The government has apologised for a “20-year cover-up” over the death of 11-month-old Elizabeth Dixon, whose parents have fought an unrelenting battle for the truth.’

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The Guardian, 26th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Supreme Court reduces standard of proof for suicide and unlawful killing in inquest conclusions – Park Square Barristers

‘The Supreme Court has on 13 November 2020 handed down the judgment in this case concerning the appropriate standard of proof for conclusions at inquests.’

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Park Square Barristers, 13th November 2020

Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk