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Inquest Hearings

Information about inquests and guidance when you are called for jury service

Notification

information

Please note that the lift at the Old Municipal Buildings is currently out of service. Our Court Room is on the first floor. You must notify us of any mobility needs in advance. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Introduction

An inquest is a Court hearing that is intended to answer four statutory questions:

  • Who was the deceased?
  • When did they die?
  • Where did they die?
  • How did their death come about?

An inquest is not a trial and it does not seek to apportion any criminal blame or civil liability.

An inquest is a fact finding enquiry that simply aims to gather information to allow the Coroner to answer these four questions.

Types of hearing

There are 3 types of inquest:

  • Jury Inquest – A complex case where a jury is required, together with witnesses, legal representation for Interested Persons.
  • Inquest – Is where witnesses are required to attend to present their evidence and have questions asked of them.
  • Read Inquest – No witnesses are required to attend and the coroner will sit alone. The coroner reads aloud relevant selections of evidence. The inquest duration can be quite short and the coroner will hear a number of cases in succession.

You may  be called to a Pre-Inquest Review. A Pre-Inquest Review (PIR) is a hearing that can be attended by Interested persons. The Coroner will not require witnesses to attend, as the hearing does not consider any evidence.

A Pre-Inquest Review will usually be held if there are particular issues of law or procedure that need to be determined by the Coroner before the final inquest. And so a Pre-Inquest Review is very much a case management or administrative hearing.

Inquest hearings are open to members of the public and the press to attend. You are welcome to be seated in the public gallery in Court on a first-come first-served basis.

If you are planning to attend an Inquest listed below, could you please either phone 01823 359271 or email  coroner@somerset.gov.uk. It helps to have an indication of attendance in advance to make sure that we continue to comply with fire regulations and health and safety matters which apply to the court building.

Prior contact does not ‘reserve’ a seat and attendance is purely down to physical attendance on the day.

Opening hearings listed for week beginning 24 February 2025

Taunton = Old Municipal Buildings, Corporation Street, Taunton TA1 4AQ
Wells = Wells Town Hall, Market Square, Wells, BA5 2RB

See the Inquest opening hearings – week beginning 24 February 2025 table at full width
Date and timeDeceasedDate of deathAgePlace of deathType of hearingHeld at
Date and time24 February at 9am DeceasedBenjamin FranklinDate of death11 February 2025Age25Place of deathIlminsterType of hearingOpeningHeld atTaunton
Date and time24 February at 9am DeceasedJohn ClaisseDate of death13 February 2025Age84Place of deathYeovil District Hospital Type of hearingOpeningHeld atTaunton

Inquests listed for final hearing February 2025

Taunton = Old Municipal Buildings, Corporation Street, Taunton TA1 4AQ
Wells = Wells Town Hall, Market Square, Wells, BA5 2RB

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Please note that inquests listed for 9am may not start exactly at that time but will be conducted throughout the day.
See the Inquests listed for final hearing – February 2025 table at full width
Date and timeDeceasedDate of deathAgePlace of deathType of hearingHeld at
Date and time3 February at 9.30amDeceasedSheila Ginn Date of death19 May 2022Age69 Place of deathEast Quantoxhead Type of hearingInquestHeld atWells
Date and time4 February at 9.30amDeceasedSheila Ginn Date of death19 May 2022Age69 Place of deathEast Quantoxhead Type of hearingInquestHeld atWells
Date and time4 February at 10amDeceasedDavid Thorn Date of death3 April 2024Age64 Place of deathWells Type of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time4 February at 12pmDeceasedWilliam Seal Date of death15 April 2024Age73 Place of deathYeovil Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time4 February at 3pmDeceasedDale Clarke Date of death13 February 2024Age32 Place of deathYeovil District Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time5 February at 10amDeceasedKerry Leigh Date of death25 February 2024Age33 Place of deathMinehead Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atWells
Date and time5 February at 1.30pmDeceasedAmy Kelly Date of death10 July 2024Age27 Place of deathYeovil Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atWells
Date and time6 February at 9amDeceasedJohn Westwood Date of death15 November 2024Age94 Place of deathTaunton Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atWells
Date and time6 February at 10amDeceasedJonathan Mounce Date of death3 April 2024Age60 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingInquestHeld atWells
Date and time10 February at 12pm and 11 February at 10amDeceasedKieran Jones Date of death26 July 2023Age23 Place of deathWells Type of hearingInquest Held atTaunton
Date and time12 February at 10amDeceasedRita Coppen Date of death28 October 2022Age91 Place of deathYeovil Type of hearingInquest Held atTaunton
Date and time13-14 February at 10amDeceasedSteven Goddard Date of death20 May 2023Age53 Place of deathIlchester Type of hearingInquest Held atWells
Date and time17 February at 10amDeceasedAnnette Exley Date of death25 April 2024Age82 Place of deathYeovil District Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time17 February at 12pmDeceasedBruce Castle Date of death25 May 2024Age73 Place of deathSomerton Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time17 February at 2pmDeceasedPhillip Larcombe Date of death10 April 2024Age36 Place of deathChard Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time17 February at 3pmDeceasedMichael Harris Date of death22 April 2024Age67 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time17 February at 4pmDeceasedDenis Milton Date of death5 July 2023Age82 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time18 February at 9amDeceasedArnold Sherwood-Williams Date of death27 April 2024Age90 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time18 February at 10amDeceasedAmanda Margetts Date of death13 April 2024Age68 Place of deathSouth Petherton Type of hearingInquest Held atTaunton
Date and time18 February at 12.30pmDeceasedValerie Berners Date of death18 April 2024Age90 Place of deathYeovil District Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time18 February at 2.30pmDeceasedMelvyn Cole Date of death17 April 2024Age62 Place of deathFrome Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time19 February at 10amDeceasedAlan Bell Date of death7 April 2024Age45 Place of deathWembdon Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time19 February at 12pmDeceasedEdward Virgin Date of death27 April 2024Age89 Place of deathCastle Cary Type of hearingInquest Held atTaunton
Date and time19 February at 2pmDeceasedAndrew Robins Date of death14 July 2024Age49 Place of deathYeovil Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time20 February at 9amDeceasedPhillip Jones Date of death1 February 2024Age62 Place of deathWinscombe Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time24 February at 9amDeceasedChristine Taylor Date of death16 June 2024Age95 Place of deathStratton-on-the-Fosse Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time24 February at 9amDeceasedPeter Burns Date of death10 August 2024Age57 Place of deathWatchet Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time24 February at 9amDeceasedBeverley Guest Date of death18 June 2024Age67 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time24 February at 9amDeceasedRonald Childs Date of death20 June 2024Age90 Place of deathMartock Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time24 February at 9amDeceasedEileen Power Date of death9 June 2024Age95 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time24 February at 9amDeceasedSarah Roberts Date of death28 June 2024Age85 Place of deathYeovil District Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time24 February at 9amDeceasedBarrie Bayes Date of death30 May 2024Age85 Place of deathMontacute Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time24 February at 9amDeceasedJeanne Hiscox Date of death27 June 2024Age93 Place of deathFrome Community Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time24 February at 9amDeceasedJulie Raybould Date of death5 June 2024Age57 Place of deathGlastonbury Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time24 February at 9amDeceasedJacob Coupe Date of death13 September 2024Age34 Place of deathYeovil District Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time24 February at 9amDeceasedJeffrey Burroughs Date of death28 May 2024Age80 Place of deathBurnham-on-Sea Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time24 February at 9amDeceasedEric Tolchard Date of death1 November 2024Age97 Place of deathSouth Petherton Community HospitalType of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time25 February at 9amDeceasedJennifer West Date of death25 April 2024Age76 Place of deathChilcompton Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time25 February at 9amDeceasedRoger Gulwell Date of death12 September 2024Age78 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time25 February at 9amDeceasedKai Salter Date of death15 March 2024Age36 Place of deathTaunton Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time25 February at 9amDeceasedGeoffrey Brooks Date of death7 July 2024Age83 Place of deathYeovil District Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time25 February at 9amDeceasedMichael Leather Date of death31 August 2024Age78 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time25 February at 9amDeceasedWilliam Taylor Date of death8 July 2024Age87 Place of deathTaunton Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time25 February at 9amDeceasedColin Green Date of death8 July 2024Age65 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time25 February at 9amDeceasedSamuel Isaacs Date of death17 August 2024Age31 Place of deathTaunton Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time25 February at 9amDeceasedLeslie Lang Date of death16 April 2024Age74 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time25 February at 9amDeceasedHelen Cronin Date of death10 February 2024Age57 Place of deathFrome Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time25 February at 9amDeceasedAnthony Lavelle Date of death27 May 2024Age74 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time25 February at 9amDeceasedJoan Spiller Date of death17 June 2024Age85 Place of deathIlminster Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time25 February at 9amDeceasedDaniel Goddard-Watts Date of death27 May 2024Age56 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time25 February at 9amDeceasedCharles Innes Date of death1 July 2024Age82 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time26 February at 9amDeceasedAnthony Farthing Date of death10 July 2024Age94 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time26 February at 9amDeceasedBernard Ringrose Date of death13 June 2024Age78 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time26 February at 9amDeceasedTimothy Parker Date of death17 August 2023Age34 Place of deathStreet Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time26 February at 9amDeceasedDaphne Pais Date of death2 August 2024Age97 Place of deathFrome Community Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time26 February at 9amDeceasedJames Bright Date of death17 August 2024Age89 Place of deathYeovil District Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time26 February at 9amDeceasedTracey Jones Date of death21 July 2024Age50 Place of deathFiddington Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time26 February at 9amDeceasedAnn Joanes Date of death8 April 2024Age25 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time26 February at 9amDeceasedStephen Perry Date of death4 August 2024Age63 Place of deathWatchet Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time26 February at 9amDeceasedNorman Hall Date of death29 May 2024Age92 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time26 February at 9amDeceasedJean Grimwood Date of death10 June 2024Age82 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time26 February at 9amDeceasedEdna Middleton Date of death15 September 2024Age92 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time26 February at 9amDeceasedAngela Bevan-Mogg Date of death6 May 2024Age77 Place of deathYeovil District Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time26 February at 9amDeceasedChristopher Bradley Date of death1 February 2024Age71 Place of deathYeovil District Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time26 February at 9amDeceasedOlive Craig Date of death15 May 2024Age93 Place of deathYeovil District Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time26 February at 9amDeceasedJacqueline Winter Date of death25 May 2024Age72 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time26 February at 9amDeceasedMarjorie Martin Date of death25 May 2024Age90 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time26 February at 9amDeceasedTimothy Jones Date of death14 September 2024Age63 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time26 February at 9amDeceasedHarvey Burt Date of death8 January 2024Age89 Place of deathYeovil District Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time26 February at 9amDeceasedMary Clarke Date of death28 November 2024Age84 Place of deathSouth Petherton Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time26 February at 9amDeceasedStanley Wescott Date of death13 September 2024Age104 Place of deathCrewkerne Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time27 February at 9amDeceasedKimberley Rose Date of death13 May 2024Age34 Place of deathWest Coker Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time27 February at 9amDeceasedAndrew Mountford Date of death29 March 2024Age50 Place of deathBridgwater Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time27 February at 9amDeceasedPeter Allfrey Date of death4 September 2024Age77 Place of deathSt Margaret’s Hospice Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time27 February at 9amDeceasedKenneth Wolfe Date of death20 July 2024Age87 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time27 February at 9amDeceasedDean Wall Date of death20 April 2024Age49 Place of deathStreet Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time27 February at 9amDeceasedKieran Tomes Date of death2 September 2024Age51 Place of deathYeovil Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time27 February at 9amDeceasedPeter Griffiths Date of death15 August 2024Age93 Place of deathCannington Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time27 February at 9amDeceasedChristopher Jackson Date of death1 September 2024Age43 Place of deathLangport Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time27 February at 9amDeceasedStephen Raffill Date of death11 March 2024Age51 Place of deathChard Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time27 February at 9amDeceasedJulie Larder Date of death16 July 2024Age64 Place of deathStreet Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time27 February at 9amDeceasedRichard Anderson Date of death22 January 2025Age73 Place of deathFrome Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time27 February at 9amDeceasedJane White Date of death25 October 2024Age79 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time27 February at 9amDeceasedLuis Mark WiltonDate of death31 March 2024Age28Place of deathGlastonburyType of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton

Inquests listed for final hearing March 2025

Taunton = Old Municipal Buildings, Corporation Street, Taunton TA1 4AQ
Wells = Wells Town Hall, Market Square, Wells, BA5 2RB

See the Inquests listed for final hearing – March 2025 table at full width
Date and timeDeceasedDate of deathAgePlace of deathType of hearingHeld at
Date and time3-7 March at 10amDeceasedJacqueline PotterDate of death15 December 2022Age54Place of deathPodimoreType of hearingJury InquestHeld atWells
Date and time3 March at 10amDeceasedKatelyn SangerDate of death12 July 2024Age27Place of deathTauntonType of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time3 March at 12amDeceasedTia MooreDate of death2 October 2024Age61Place of deathMusgrove Park HospitalType of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time3 March at 2pmDeceasedDeidre GascoigneDate of death29 September 2024Age83Place of deathMusgrove Park HospitalType of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time6 March at 10amDeceasedEdward BakerDate of death15 May 2024Age65Place of deathSouthmead Hospital Type of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time6 March at 2.30pmDeceasedRonald WainhouseDate of death14 September 2024Age78Place of deathMusgrove Park HospitalType of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time10-14 March at 10am DeceasedRebekah Hughes Date of death19 September 2022Age51Place of deathStreetType of hearingInquestHeld atWells
Date and time10 March at 10am DeceasedPatricia Herbert Date of death1 October 2024Age85Place of deathYeovil District Hospital Type of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time10 March at 12pm DeceasedAlexandria Winder Date of death27 September 2024Age58Place of deathWincantonType of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time10 March at 2pm DeceasedBridget Christian Date of death3 October 2024Age81Place of deathMusgrove Park HospitalType of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time13 March at 10am DeceasedRowland Honeywill Date of death29 June 2024 Age89Place of deathMusgrove Park HospitalType of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time13 March at 12pm DeceasedWayne Frost Date of death25 February 2024Age39Place of deathSouth PethertonType of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time13 March at 2pm DeceasedCresswell Whitton Date of death25 July 2024Age88Place of deathMusgrove Park HospitalType of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time17-21 March at 10am DeceasedEdward Bonfield Date of death8 August 2022Age46Place of deathSouthmead Hospital Type of hearingInquestHeld atWells
Date and time17 March at 10am DeceasedCaroline Butts Date of death21 September 2024Age76Place of deathLangportType of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time17 March at 12pm DeceasedJason Latham Date of death5 May 2024Age53Place of deathFrome Type of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time17 March at 2pm DeceasedMartin Day Date of death15 February 2024Age35Place of deathBurnham-on-SeaType of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time18 March at 10am DeceasedVreehusspati Purmanund Date of death8 May 2024Age82Place of deathBurnham-on-SeaType of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time18 March at 12pm DeceasedRoger Richards Date of death30 November 2024Age76Place of deathMusgrove Park HospitalType of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time18 March at 1.30pm DeceasedJoe Serva Date of death4 October 2023Age15Place of deathFromeType of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time19 March at 10am DeceasedSusan Gardiner Date of death25 January 2024Age72Place of deathMusgrove Park HospitalType of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time19 March at 1pm DeceasedBrian BanburyDate of death19 December 2024Age83Place of deathMusgrove Park HospitalType of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time19 March at 2pm DeceasedAntonia Heaton Date of death12 May 2024Age84Place of deathWincantonType of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time20 March at 10am DeceasedChristina Barry Date of death3 August 2024Age77Place of deathMusgrove Park HospitalType of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time20 March at 12pm DeceasedCarole Centamore Date of death14 May 2024Age69Place of deathYeovil District Hospital Type of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time20 March at 2pm DeceasedWilliam Davies Date of death25 July 2024Age96Place of deathYeovil District Hospital Type of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time24 March at 10am DeceasedDawn Fry Date of death4 September 2023Age65Place of deathYeovilType of hearingInquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time25 March 10am to 2pmDeceasedDaniel ShortDate of death14 August 2019Age33Place of deathBridgwaterType of hearingPre-Inquest ReviewHeld atWells
Date and time25 March at 10am DeceasedDeborah Haskins Date of death12 May 2024Age65Place of deathMusgrove Park HospitalType of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time25 March at 12pm DeceasedWayne Brewer Date of death13 January 2024Age53Place of deathChardType of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time25 March at 2pm DeceasedNathan Donovan Date of death24 December 2023Age48Place of deathBurnham-on-SeaType of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time26 March at 10am DeceasedAtticus Bartlett Date of death23 July 2022Age6 weeksPlace of deathBristol Children’s HospitalType of hearingInquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time27 March at 10am DeceasedRebekha Doyle Date of death16 June 2021Age34Place of deathShepton MalletType of hearingPre-Inquest ReviewHeld atTaunton
Date and time27 March at 10am DeceasedFranklin Ingram Date of death23 June 2024Age68Place of deathYeovilType of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time31 March at 10am DeceasedChristine Vennell Date of death2 April 2024Age78Place of deathFromeType of hearingInquestHeld atTaunton

What happens

During the Inquest hearing itself the Coroner will hear the evidence and, at the end of the Inquest, the Coroner will give their conclusion. All of the findings made by the Coroner are based on the evidence that they have heard and are on the basis of what is more likely to have happened than not. This is known as ‘on the balance of probabilities’.

This is the same standard of proof that is used in the civil courts, and so is lower than that used in criminal courts – where the Judge must be satisfied ‘beyond reasonable doubt’.

At the end of the Inquest the Coroner will complete the Record of Inquest. This is a publicly available document and contains answers to the four statutory questions.

In most cases the Coroner will sit alone but sometimes the Coroner will be required to sit with a jury.

Interested person

There is a statutory list of who is considered to be an interested person, but generally speaking interested persons are:

  • Family of the deceased
  • Anyone whose acts or omissions may have caused or contributed to the death

Interested persons are entitled to disclosure of the evidence to be heard at inquest and can attend the inquest and ask questions of the witnesses.

Remote attendance and inquests in writing

An Inquest and any related hearings (such as pre-inquest reviews, suspensions and adjournments) are held in open court, unless notification is given that the Inquest will be ‘in Writing’.

Interested Persons – Witnesses – Advocates

Interested persons, witnesses and advocates should attend the inquest and any related hearings in person. They should be present physically in Court.

If you are an ‘interested person’, witness or advocate and you wish to attend the hearing remotely then you must:

  • Email a written application to the Coroner: coroner@somerset.gov.uk
  • The application must be made at the earliest possible opportunity, but no later than 10 clear working days before the listed hearing.
  • The application should clearly set out the reasons why you are unable to attend in person and why remote access should be given.

On receipt of an application within the time limits stated above, the Coroner will:

  • Seek the views of the interested persons and any advocates.
  • Deliver a ruling on the application.
  • If the application is granted and the matter is listed in a Court that has facilities for remote attendance, then the remote link will be made available to you by court staff.

The Coroner will be more likely to permit remote attendance where:

  • Remote attendance would improve the quality of the evidence given.
  • Remote attendance would allow the inquest to proceed more expediently.
  • Remote attendance is the only way to enable participation (that is, the applicant has emigrated and now lives abroad).
  • There is the capacity and technological capability to enable remote attendance at that particular hearing.
  • Allowing remote attendance would not create an unreasonable administrative burden.

In reaching a decision the coroner will also consider:

  • Whether remote attendance will impede the questioning of a witness.
  • The balance to be struck between the interests of justice and the interests of those attending the hearing.

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No one has the right to observe a hearing remotely. Individuals are entitled to apply for permission and applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis and they may be refused.

Press and members of the public

From 28 June 2022 it became lawful for members of the public and the press to join hearings remotely. Should you wish to make an application then you must:

  • Make a written application to the Coroner using this email address: coroner@somerset.gov.uk
  • The application must be made at the earliest possible opportunity, but no later than 10 clear working days before the listed hearing.
  • The application should clearly set out the reasons why you should be granted remote access.

General advice concerning remote access

Please note that there is currently only one Courtroom in Taunton that allows for the use of remote access. The Coroner also has potential access to a second Courtroom in Wells but this is only used for Jury cases and larger inquests by prior agreement. There is sufficient room in the Court to physically accommodate members of the public and press, within reason.

As such, we recommend that anyone wanting to attend an Inquest hearing does not rely on remote access being available.

Where remote access is permitted, a link to access the proceedings will be sent by email, along with a set of guidelines for conduct. Please familiarise yourself with these in advance.

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It is a summary offence and contempt of court to record or transmit the proceedings and any images of any person attending the proceedings. If any person records or broadcasts all or any part of the proceedings, they will be committing a criminal offence.

Jury Service

When a Coroner hears an Inquest, they will normally sit alone. However, in certain circumstances the Coroner may be required to sit with a Jury. This is made of between seven and eleven randomly selected members of the public who will act as the ‘judges of fact’ in the particular case. They will be under the legal direction of the Coroner and it will be they, rather than the Coroner, who reach and return the Conclusion at the end of the Inquest.

Potential jury members are screened for any matters within their personal circumstances which may compromise their ability to remain impartial. If the Coroner believes that they may not be able to remain true to their oath to diligently enquire into the death of the deceased, the Coroner can choose to discharge a particular juror from the selection pool before the Inquest starts. It may also become necessary to discharge a juror part way through an Inquest, but this decision is not taken lightly.

An Inquest is not a trial. It is an inquisitorial process rather than an adversarial one. The purpose of any Inquest is not to determine any civil or criminal blame or liability, and so no one is on trial.

If you are called to be part of a jury – if you receive a Jury Summons

Once you have been selected, you will be notified in writing that you are required to attend the Court and sit as a juror. You will then be sent a set of instructions as to what you will need to do, along with a form that you must return to the Court. You can contact the Somerset Coroner’s office if you have any questions when you receive the instructions and the form.

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Attending as a juror is not optional, it is a civil obligation that you are required to perform. Failing to return the completed form or to attend and serve on the jury is punishable by a fine of up to £1000.

If you are employed, you will need to let your employer know that you will not be able to attend work during the days on which you are sitting as a juror. You will need to make sure that your employer will pay you in your absence from work, as the Court will not pay you for completing your jury service. However, in cases where your employer is unwilling to pay you, you can make a claim for loss of earnings as a result of being absent from work. This arrangement also applies if you are self-employed. There are limits as to the amount that you can be paid and these are set out in law. For more information, you can look at the jury service page of the GOV.UK website.

As a serving juror then you will also be given a daily allowance to cover food and drink. In certain circumstances then you may also be able to claim travel expenses. Please visit the jury service page of GOV.UK for more about these expenses.

What happens if you want to delay your jury service

In exceptional circumstances (such as having a pre-booked holiday, which you will need to provide documentary evidence of) then the Coroner may allow you to postpone your jury service. You will not be allowed more than one postponement.

If you think that you are unable to carry out jury service for the dates that you have been called for and you wish to make an application to postpone it, then you should contact the Coroner’s Office as soon as possible, setting out your full reasons and sending in any proof of your reason for non-attendance on this occasion. Contact details are available on this website. They will also be sent out on the notification letter that you received.

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Guidance on remote inquest hearing participation

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Last updated: February 21, 2025

Next review due: August 21, 2025

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