Inquest Legal Meaning
This is a fact that the doctor in charge of the ambulance recorded during the examination. Although the European civil law system has a long tradition of using medical evidence and professional witnesses in court, there is no procedure similar to an investigation. See also Coroner`s Jury. The jury panel called for an investigation into the circumstances of a sudden death in violence or custody. Any panel of jurors called upon to investigate specific matters. (A grand jury is sometimes called a grand inquiry.) Peaches Geldof died of a heroin overdose, according to an investigation aided today. There are no inquests or coroners in Scotland where sudden non-natural deaths are reported and investigated on behalf of the local prosecutor. The Public Prosecutor`s Office has a duty to investigate all sudden, suspicious, accidental, unexpected and unexplained deaths, as well as any deaths that occur in circumstances of serious public concern. When a death is reported, the prosecutor`s office investigates the circumstances of the death, attempts to determine the cause of death, and considers whether criminal proceedings or investigation into the fatal accident are appropriate. In most cases reported to prosecutors, initial investigations exclude suspicious circumstances and determine that the death was due to natural causes. [9] 1. A group of men appointed by law to investigate certain matters. The grand jury is sometimes referred to as the “grand inquiry.” 2.
A judicial inquiry conducted by a jury convened for that purpose is called an “inquiry”. The discovery of such men during an examination is also called an investigation. Menschen v. Coombs, 36 App. Div. 284, 55 N. Y. Supp. 276; Davis v. Bibb County, 116 Ga.
23, 42 S. E. 403. 3. A coroner`s examination, called a coroner`s examination, into the death of a person who was killed or died suddenly or in prison. 4. This name is also given to a type of proceeding in New York practice, which is permissible if the defendant has neither filed an affidavit nor verified his response in a civil action. In this case, at the request of the plaintiff, the case may be examined in its ordinary order and heard without allowing a positive defence. An inquiry is a hearing on a question of fact in which the applicant testifies alone.
The defendant has the right to appear at the hearing and to cross-examine the plaintiff`s witnesses; and when he appears, the inquiry must be conducted by a jury, unless he expressly waives a jury. Haines v. Davis, 6 Wie. Prac. (N.Y.) 118. An inquest conducted by a coroner or coroner, sometimes with the assistance of a jury, into the cause of a violent death or death under suspicious circumstances. In general, an examination can lead to natural death, accidental death, suicide or murder. Prosecution may be initiated if culpable conduct contributed to death. An investigation is essentially a judicial inquiry. Usually, a coroner and/or jury will request an inquest into the cause of death of a person who has just been killed or who died suddenly under mysterious or suspicious circumstances, including, but not limited to, jail. Generally, the inquest determines the manner of death, such as natural death, suicide, murder or accidental death. If it has been proven that guilt contributed to the person`s death, criminal proceedings could soon be initiated.
In general, however, an inquiry may also refer to a panel of jurors who are subpoenaed to investigate certain circumstances. For example, sometimes an inquest is conducted into an issue that has nothing to do with a person`s death, such as a jury inquiry into a person`s mental state. Also, a grand jury is sometimes called a grand inquiry. In the United States, inquests are usually conducted by coroners, who are usually county or city officials. [10] These investigations are not themselves processes, but investigations. Depending on the State, they may be characterized as judicial, quasi-judicial or extrajudicial proceedings. [11] Investigations and the need to conduct them are a matter of U.S. law. [12] Statutes may also regulate the obligation to summon and swear in a coroner.
[13] The investigations themselves are usually public trials, although the accused may not be eligible to participate. [14] Coroners can compel witnesses to attend interviews and testify, and they can punish a witness if he or she refuses to testify in accordance with the law. [15] Coroners are generally not bound by the jury`s finding and enjoy a wide margin of discretion that cannot be challenged in many jurisdictions. The effect of a coroner`s common law verdict was equivalent to a grand jury finding, whereas some statutes provide that a verdict holds the defendant responsible for the arrest. [16] Generally, the county or city is responsible for the costs of conducting an investigation, but some laws have provided for the reimbursement of these costs. [17] Whether evidence adduced at an inquiry can be used in subsequent civil proceedings depends on the jurisdiction,[18] although at common law the inquest judgment is admissible to prove the cause of death. [19] However, coroner`s reports and conclusions are admissible in principle. [20] Inquiry, judicial inquiry by a group of persons appointed by a court. The most common type is the inquest, which was set up to investigate a death that appears to have been caused by non-natural means. Witnesses are heard and a special jury renders a verdict on the cause of death. In England, investigations are also needed in the event of loss or injury in a fire. The inquest is limited to common law jurisdictions that have a coroner`s system.
Interestingly, today`s modern jury system emerged between the eighth and tenth centuries of the Carolingian Empire of early medieval Europe. The kings of the Carolingian Empire used a procedure known as an inquiry or inquisition to maintain their power and authority in their domains. As an example, these kings also brought together different peoples from all parts of their empire and discussed with them what they considered the most important rights. Once these kings determined which rights were taken into account, local governments throughout the empire adopted and established those rights. However, these investigations lacked the modern characteristics of charges, judgments, verdicts and other aspects of their trial. Nevertheless, the main feature of the survey was to obtain information, which allowed governments to obtain and request information from local individuals. The finding(s) of a group of persons designated to conduct a criminal investigation or the report of their investigation. At an inquest in May, Kent Police DCI Paul Fotheringham said recent heroin use likely played a role in his death. Significant investigations may be carried out in the event of disasters or in some jurisdictions (except England and Wales) in corruption cases.
[5] The fortune turned out to be as large as he had anticipated, and no investigation had been conducted on the deceased. The investigation to settle a fact developed in Scandinavia and the Carolingian Empire before the end of the tenth century. [6] This was the survey data collection method for the Domesday Book in England after the Norman Conquest. [6] In his report on the culture of the Gauls (Commentarii de Bello Gallico VI.19.3), Julius Caesar mentions a very early application of the procedure: “When a case is suspected of death, they conduct an investigation (quaestio) on women in the method used for slaves, and when guilt is established, they kill women, who have been tortured, with fire and all torment. INQUIRY. A group of men appointed by law to investigate certain matters; such as the investigation of the facts relating to the alleged murder; The grand jury is sometimes called the grand inquiry. The judicial inquiry itself is also known as the inquiry. The discovery of such men during an investigation is also known as an investigation or inquisition. 2. An official investigation was to be found for the king on the instructions of the court.