Community directory

Special circumstances when the Crown Court is involved

Where a death leads to Crown Court proceedings,e.g. a person is charged with murder, manslaughter or of causing death by dangerous driving or careless driving or under the influence of drink then the inquest will be formerly opened and Form 120 will in due course be issued and notification of the criminal proceedings be transferred to the Crown Court. The inquest is then adjourned with a form being forwarded to the Registrar who will issue a death certificate. After the criminal proceedings have been concluded the Coroner notifies the Registrar of the outcome. Normally a Coroner does not re-convene the inquest if there has been a trial of the facts in public at the Crown Court. As before, relatives can then obtain copies of the death certificate.