• Topic
• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> The coroner’s inquest >> The coroner’s inquest

The coroner’s inquest

• Clip
• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> Cynthia - Interview 02 >> After the inquest Cynthia understood why she had not been allowed to see her daughter’s body. She would have liked to have had that explained at the t

In 2000 Cynthia’s 26 year old daughter was killed when she was knocked off her bicycle and run over by a lorry. The inquest verdict was “accidental death” and the driver was acquitted. Cynthia was devastated and now campaigns to prevent other road deaths.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> Dorothy - Interview 28 >> Dorothy and her family wanted to prepare for the inquest. The coroner charged them £566 for disclosure of evidence, but another coroner told her that

In 2005 Dorothy’s son, Mark, was killed in an industrial incident. He was working in a waste and recycling plant. Dorothy was shocked and angry. Counselling, hypnotherapy and Compassionate Friends have helped.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> Pat - Interview 05 >> The coroner’s officer explained why a post-mortem was necessary. She answered Pat's questions, and later took a statement about Matthew and about his

In 2007 Pat’s son, Matthew, was killed when his motorbike hit a car that was turning right. The coroner concluded that it had been an accident. Pat was devastated. She has found support from family, friends, and through Cruse Bereavement Care.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a husband, wife or partner >> Martin - Interview 10 >> After Steph was hit by a bus the inquest was adjourned. The driver was charged with causing death by dangerous driving, but the case collapsed. Martin

Martin’s wife had a part time job as a lollypop lady. When she was standing on the pavement, she was hit by a bus, and died instantly. Martin was shocked. He is bringing up two children, which is a heavy responsibility. Counselling has helped him.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a brother or a sister >> Tamsin - Interview 06 >> Before the inquest the coroner’s officer showed them photos of the crash site, gave them the results of the post-mortem, explained who would be at the

One day in 2007 Tamsin said goodbye to her brother. That evening Matthew died when his motorbike collided with a car. Tamsin was devastated. Her partner and her family support her but she misses Matthew dreadfully and the pain doesn’t get any easier.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a brother or a sister >> Susanna - Interview 17 >> The inquest for those killed by the Bali bomb was held about nine months later. During the inquest Susanna found out exactly what had killed her broth

Susanna lost her brother in the terrorist bombings in Bali on 12th October 2002. Dan was killed instantly and his wife was badly burnt. With other bereaved relatives she started the UK Bali Bombing Victims Group.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> William - Interview 18 >> During the inquest the barristers tried to blame his daughter for the accident and William felt upset and hurt. The inquest did not answer all his que

In 2005 William’s 15 year old daughter, Lauren, was crossing a motorway and was hit by a lorry. She died almost immediately. William felt anger and guilt for not being able to protect her. He still misses her very much indeed.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> Alison - Interview 23 >> Alison was allowed to go to the police station to see the statements and other documents that had been collected for the inquest. She wanted to be wel

In 2007 Alison’s husband and two of her young children died in their own home. Alison believes that her husband murdered her children and then set fire to the house. He also died. It has been a terrible time.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a parent >> Karen - Interview 04 >> Karen felt that the inquest was a waste of time and a waste of taxpayers’ money. It did not answer important questions; she did not want to ask any qu

In 2007 Karen’s mother died when her house caught fire. It is unclear how the fire started, but the coroner decided it was an accidental death. Karen was shocked by her mother’s death. She has been helped and supported by her husband and his family.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> Dorothy - Interview 28 >> Having waited years for her son’s inquest Dorothy felt ‘totally devastated’ by the jury's narrative verdict. She feels that members of the jury applie

In 2005 Dorothy’s son, Mark, was killed in an industrial incident. He was working in a waste and recycling plant. Dorothy was shocked and angry. Counselling, hypnotherapy and Compassionate Friends have helped.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a brother or a sister >> Erykah - Interview 22 >> The family had to wait two years for the inquest. Erykah hoped that the inquest would bring ‘closure’ but it didn’t. Many unanswered questions remain

In 2002 Erykah’s brother was shot many times. His death was a terrible shock, and at first Erykah couldn’t believe it. Erykah’s faith keeps her strong. She has found support via the organisation, Mothers against Violence (MAV).

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> Dean - Interview 36 >> The coroner returned a verdict of ‘accidental death’. Dean would have preferred a verdict of ‘death by dangerous driving’. He feels very angry and thi

Dean’s son, Andrew, was killed in 2006. He was hit by a car which was driven by a man who was not insured and who was driving illegally. Dean felt shocked and devastated. He has found help via friends, family, RoadPeace, the Spirualist Church and others.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> Godfrey - Interview 39 >> The inquest was a terrible experience. Godfrey and his wife expected to hear the report that had been conducted into the accident but they were told t

In 1995 Godfrey’s son was fatally injured as he tried to board a train. Godfrey was denied information about exactly what had happened. The jury at the inquest decided it was an accident. It was an awful tragedy but Godfrey still has a positive attitude.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a husband, wife or partner >> Nina - Interview 37 >> Austen died in the Potters Bar train crash in 2002, but Nina is still waiting for the inquest. The judge (sitting as coroner) decided there should be

In 2002 Nina’s husband, Autsen, was killed in the Potters Bar rail crash. She was seriously hurt. Nina campaigned for compensation for the families of those who died. Nina misses her husband. She wrote the book “Dear Austen” to tell him what happened.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> The coroner’s inquest >> The coroner’s inquest

The coroner’s inquest