Non-offence Incidents

Question 1

What is the purpose of a post-mortem?

Answer 1

Determine the cause of death

Question 2

Who authorises post-mortem examinations?

Answer 2

The Coroner

Question 3

Who performs post-mortem examinations?

Answer 3

Pathologist

Question 4

When must police report the death to the Coroner?

Answer 4

Immediately

Question 5

How do police report the death to the Coroner?

Answer 5

By calling the Coroner’s National Initial Investigation Office (NIIO)

Question 6

What deaths must be reported to the Coroner?

Answer 6

SCUMBLE

Suicide
Cause unknown or no Doctor’s Certificate
Unnatural or violent 
Medically unexpected while under the effects of anaesthetic or as a result of a medical procedure
Birth
Institutional
Enactment requires holding of an inquest

Question 7

What are the three main purposes of the coronial inquest?

Answer 7

1. To establish as much as possible:
   - the fact that a person has died
   - the identity of the deceased
   - the cause of death
   - where and when the death occurred
   - the circumstances of the death
2. To make recommendations or comments that in the Coroner’s opinion, may decrease the likelihood of deaths in similar circumstances from happening again
3. To determine whether the public interest is served by requesting that other authorities investigate the death and to refer the death to them if they are satisfied that it is

Question 8

What deaths MUST the Coroner hold an inquest into?

Answer 8

Suicide
Any institutional deaths
Any death in which the Coroner is not satisfied that the cause or circumstances of death have been clearly established

Question 9

Etiquette to be observed when speaking directly to a Coroner

Answer 9

Coroners are equivalent to a District Judge. Refer to them as Sir and Ma’am

Question 10

Inquest procedure

Answer 10

It is conducted in a similar way to a sitting of the District Court.

• the other is administered to the witness
• the deposition is read to the witness
• after the witness has heard the deposition, he or she is asked if it is true
• if the witness agrees that it is and there is nothing more to add as a result of questions by the Coroner, solicitors, other other interested parties, the witness signs the deposition

Police and medical practitioners usually read their own depositions.

Question 11

What is a deposition?

Answer 11

The giving of sworn evidence