Inquests

Tel. 0161 236 1840

Areas of Specialisation / Areas / Inquests

Committed to providing representation for bereaved families at inquests.

Chambers has always been committed to providing representation for bereaved families at inquests. Members of Chambers regularly appear in all parts of the country, work closely with the national campaign and advice group INQUEST and have had a number of cases reported.

Members of Chambers have particular experience of inquests into deaths in police custody and prisons, a number of recent examples of which are listed at the bottom of the page. Members were also involved in the high-profile Christopher Alder inquest, involving the unlawful killing of a black ex-paratrooper in police custody.

Our practitioners have successfully pursued remedies for bereaved families by way of judicial review, including the landmark case of R(Middleton) v HM Coroner for West Somerset [2004] 2 AC 182 (regarding the applicability of Article 2 to inquests into deaths in custody). The decision in Middleton has had a substantial impact on jury findings in such cases and on the determination of state responsibility where prison authorities or the police have failed in their duty of care.

Members of chambers are also instructed in other inquests including the Kingsway Hospital Inquests before the South Derbyshire Coroner on behalf of a former member of the hospital staff whose conduct was called into question.