Inquests in England and Wales - Verdict

Verdict

The following verdicts are not mandatory but are strongly recommended:

  • Category 1
    • Natural causes
    • Industrial diseases
    • Dependency on drugs or non-dependent abuse of drugs
    • Want of attention at birth
    • Lack of care or self-neglect
  • Category 2
    • Suicide
    • Attempted or self-induced abortion
    • Accident or misadventure
    • Execution of sentence of death
    • Lawful killing (formerly "justifiable homicide")
    • Open verdict (cause of death unknown or unstated)
  • Category 3 - Unlawful killing
    • Murder
    • Manslaughter
    • Infanticide
  • Category 4
    • Still birth

In 2004, 37% of inquests recorded an outcome of death by accident / misadventure, 21% by natural causes, 13% suicide, 10% open verdicts, and 19% other outcomes.

If an open verdict is returned, the inquest can be reopened if new evidence is found and presented to the coroner.

Read more about this topic:  Inquests In England And Wales

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