Are inquest records public

LoveCoke

Is it possible to get a copy of an inquest that took place in the 1980's? Woul.d the person's family have to be asked?

johnayo

LoveCoke wrote: »

Is it possible to get a copy of an inquest that took place in the 1980's? Woul.d the person's family have to be asked?

Who did you kill:cool:

coylemj

A list of witnesses and the jury's verdict is probably the best you could hope to get, you certainly won't get a transcript of the proceedings. Write to the Coroner's Office for the area where the inquest was held though at potentially 30 years distance you'd be lucky to even get an acknowledgement that the inquest was ever held in the first place.

LoveCoke

coylemj wrote: »

A list of witnesses and the jury's verdict is probably the best you could hope to get, you certainly won't get a transcript of the proceedings. Write to the Coroner's Office for the area where the inquest was held though at potentially 30 years distance you'd be lucky to even get an acknowledgement that the inquest was ever held in the first place.

This says you can get copy. I know where it was held

coylemj

I'm not disputing that but what exactly are you looking for?

Would the person's family have to be asked? No, the outcome of the inquest is a matter of public record. In the same way as you can get a copy of a will admitted to probate without asking permission from the next of kin.

NUTLEY BOY

You could apply for copies of depositions. These are statements made before the hearing. They are not transcripts . I think that they would probably include the post mortem report. There is a fee.

LoveCoke

coylemj wrote: »

I'm not disputing that but what exactly are you looking for?

Would the person's family have to be asked? No, the outcome of the inquest is a matter of public record. In the same way as you can get a copy of a will admitted to probate without asking permission from the next of kin.

I am looking for a copy of the report of the inquest Sorry thought you meant i could not get one.

I do not want to cause the family any distress as it may if they had to be asked by the person giving the report

LoveCoke

NUTLEY BOY wrote: »

You could apply for copies of depositions. These are statements made before the hearing. They are not transcripts . I think that they would probably include the post mortem report. There is a fee.

Thanks what is the difference between a statement and transcript? Basically i a, looking to learn all i can about what happened to the person. There may have been a pathologist gave evidence, If so will his report be included in statement

coylemj

LoveCoke wrote: »

Thanks what is the difference between a statement and transcript?

In a criminal trial there is a shorthand writer taking notes so that if there is an appeal, the entire proceedings can be typed up for the consideration of the appeal judge(s), this is a transcript.

A statement is a written account of what a witness proposes to say at a trial or inquest. In a criminal trial these are assembled and presented to the accused in the book of evidence.

When I said you won't get a transcript of the proceedings, what I meant is that there is nobody taking shorthand notes of what is said in the inquest as happens in a criminal trial with a jury. As far as I'm aware, the best you can hope for out of an inquest is a copy of statements and the post mortem report submitted to the coroner before the inquest took place and the jury's verdict.

LoveCoke

coylemj wrote: »

When I said you won't get a transcript of the proceedings, what I meant is that there is nobody taking shorthand notes of what is said in the inquest as happens in a criminal trial with a jury. As far as I'm aware, the best you can hope for out of an inquest is a copy of statements and the post mortem report submitted to the coroner before the inquest took place and the jury's verdict.

Oh i see ok thanks;)