The Inquest Book
The Law of Coroners and Inquests
2nd Edition
Published on 24. July 2025
Book
Hardback
808 pages
978-1-5099-6227-3 (ISBN)
Description
The 2nd edition of this essential handbook on coronial law incorporates the significant changes in legislation and case law in this area of law since its first publication. These include:
- The new understanding of the impact of Article 2 ECHR, which protects the right to life, on the conduct of inquests;
- The changes in the burden of proof for suicide and unlawful killing to the civil standard of proof;
- New chapters on air, marine and railway accidents and inquests resumed after criminal proceedings.
The Inquest Book is the definitive guide to inquests, providing clear commentary on the relevant legislation and case law summaries in a single volume. The first half of the book is structured according to the elements of an inquest and the second half according to the subject matter of a coroner's investigation. Each chapter provides an overview of the legislation and relevant guidance, followed by case summaries and extracts. This new edition includes 'mini' indices within the book, for easier internal reference.
- The new understanding of the impact of Article 2 ECHR, which protects the right to life, on the conduct of inquests;
- The changes in the burden of proof for suicide and unlawful killing to the civil standard of proof;
- New chapters on air, marine and railway accidents and inquests resumed after criminal proceedings.
The Inquest Book is the definitive guide to inquests, providing clear commentary on the relevant legislation and case law summaries in a single volume. The first half of the book is structured according to the elements of an inquest and the second half according to the subject matter of a coroner's investigation. Each chapter provides an overview of the legislation and relevant guidance, followed by case summaries and extracts. This new edition includes 'mini' indices within the book, for easier internal reference.
More details
Edition
2nd edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 176 mm
Width: 251 mm
Thickness: 52 mm
Weight
1486 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5099-6227-3 (9781509962273)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Caroline Cross is a Barrister at 1 Crown Office Row, UK.
Sir Neil Garnham is a High Court judge sitting in the King's Bench Division, UK.
Rajkiran Arhestey is a Barrister at 1 Crown Office Row, UK.
Matthew Hill is a Barrister at 1 Crown Office Row, UK.
Sir Neil Garnham is a High Court judge sitting in the King's Bench Division, UK.
Rajkiran Arhestey is a Barrister at 1 Crown Office Row, UK.
Matthew Hill is a Barrister at 1 Crown Office Row, UK.
Content
Foreword, the former Chief Coroner of England and Wales, HHJ Thomas Teague
1. Introduction, Caroline Cross, Sir Neil Garnham, Rajkiran Arhestey and Matthew Hill
Part One: Inquests - General Principles
2. Sources of Coronial Law and Guidance, Richard Mumford
3. Duty to Hold an Inquest, Rachel Marcus
4. The Role and Scope of an Inquest, Isabel McArdle and Thomas Beamont
5. The Coroner, Emma Whitting and Lance Baynham
6. Pre-Inquest Reviews, Richard Mumford
7. Article 2 Inquests, Peter Skelton KC and Rajkiran Arhestey
8. Interested Persons, David Manknell KC
9. Witnesses, Rory Badenoch and Gareth Rhys
10. Funding, Pritesh Rathod
11. The Jury, Richard Mumford and Jasper Gold
12. Evidence, Disclosure and Experts, Peter Skelton KC and Gideon Barth
13. Anonymity, Protective Measures and Public Interest Immunity, Matthew Hill and Darragh Coffey
14. The Inquest Hearing, Jo Moore and David Manknell
15. Conclusions, Peter Skelton KC and Jonathan Metzer
16. Inquest versus Public Inquiry, Isabel McArdle and Alice Kuzmenko
Part Two: Specific Inquests
17. Medical Inquests, Shaheen Rahman KC and Marcus Coates-Walker
18. Inquests Concerning Mental Health and Capacity, Michael Deacon and Lucy McCann
19. Deaths in Custody, Lois Williams and Thomas Hayes
20. Police Inquests, Alasdair Henderson and Gideon Barth
21. Military Personnel and Civilians in Armed Conflict, Dominic Ruck Keene and Caroline Cross
22. Inquests Involving Intelligence Services and Agencies, Sir Neil Garnham, Neil Sheldon KC and Jasper Gold
23. Air, Marine, and Railway Accidents, David Manknell KC and Paul Reynolds
24. Inquests Resumed After Criminal Proceedings, Matthew Hill
25. Deaths in the Workplace, Alasdair Henderson and Thomas Beamont
Part Three: After the Inquest
26. Reports to Prevent Future Deaths, Caroline Cross, Isabel McArdle and Nicholas Jones
27. Steps After the Inquest, Jim Duffy
1. Introduction, Caroline Cross, Sir Neil Garnham, Rajkiran Arhestey and Matthew Hill
Part One: Inquests - General Principles
2. Sources of Coronial Law and Guidance, Richard Mumford
3. Duty to Hold an Inquest, Rachel Marcus
4. The Role and Scope of an Inquest, Isabel McArdle and Thomas Beamont
5. The Coroner, Emma Whitting and Lance Baynham
6. Pre-Inquest Reviews, Richard Mumford
7. Article 2 Inquests, Peter Skelton KC and Rajkiran Arhestey
8. Interested Persons, David Manknell KC
9. Witnesses, Rory Badenoch and Gareth Rhys
10. Funding, Pritesh Rathod
11. The Jury, Richard Mumford and Jasper Gold
12. Evidence, Disclosure and Experts, Peter Skelton KC and Gideon Barth
13. Anonymity, Protective Measures and Public Interest Immunity, Matthew Hill and Darragh Coffey
14. The Inquest Hearing, Jo Moore and David Manknell
15. Conclusions, Peter Skelton KC and Jonathan Metzer
16. Inquest versus Public Inquiry, Isabel McArdle and Alice Kuzmenko
Part Two: Specific Inquests
17. Medical Inquests, Shaheen Rahman KC and Marcus Coates-Walker
18. Inquests Concerning Mental Health and Capacity, Michael Deacon and Lucy McCann
19. Deaths in Custody, Lois Williams and Thomas Hayes
20. Police Inquests, Alasdair Henderson and Gideon Barth
21. Military Personnel and Civilians in Armed Conflict, Dominic Ruck Keene and Caroline Cross
22. Inquests Involving Intelligence Services and Agencies, Sir Neil Garnham, Neil Sheldon KC and Jasper Gold
23. Air, Marine, and Railway Accidents, David Manknell KC and Paul Reynolds
24. Inquests Resumed After Criminal Proceedings, Matthew Hill
25. Deaths in the Workplace, Alasdair Henderson and Thomas Beamont
Part Three: After the Inquest
26. Reports to Prevent Future Deaths, Caroline Cross, Isabel McArdle and Nicholas Jones
27. Steps After the Inquest, Jim Duffy