Inquests are held when someone has died a violent or unnatural death, the cause of the death is unknown or the person has died in prison or in any place or circumstances where the law requires an inquest.

Where the police have taken proceedings as a result of a death, the Coroner will open the inquest and then wait until after the hearing in a criminal court has taken place before deciding whether or not to reconvene the inquest.

For younger, (primary school age) children, we can wholeheartedly recommend ‘An inquest for Mr Rabbit’ which explains the process of a Coroner’s inquest. The story tells how Mr Rabbit died on holiday in France, and what happened afterwards in simple language. With pictures by children’s illustrator Jan Barger, it measures just 80x80mm to fit easily in a pocket or bag.