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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.

Inquest opening hearings - week beginning 31 March 2025

Date and timeDeceasedDate of deathAgePlace of deathType of hearingHeld at
Date and time1 April at 9amDeceasedGordon Frederick Little  Date of death26 March 2025Age86 Place of deathTemplecombe Type of hearingOpeningHeld atTaunton
Date and time1 April at 9amDeceased Terry Sessford Date of death23 March 2025Age68 Place of deathYeovil Type of hearingOpeningHeld atTaunton
Date and time1 April at 9amDeceasedSusan Yvonne Astley Date of death14 March 2025Age79 Place of deathTaunton Type of hearingOpeningHeld 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 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 hearingTBCHeld 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 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 hearingTBCHeld atTaunton
Date and time26 March at 10amDeceasedDoreen Wilkins Date of death10 December 2024Age90 Place of deathMusgrove Park HospitalType of hearingRead InquestHeld atWells
Date and time26 March at 11amDeceasedCecil Cave Date of death15 November 2024Age84 Place of deathYeovil District Hospital Type of hearingRead InquestHeld atWells
Date and time26 March at 12pmDeceasedGuy Potter Date of death16 August 2024Age47 Place of deathEast Lyng Type of hearingRead InquestHeld atWells
Date and time26 March at 2.30pmDeceasedSally Camfield Date of death22 January 2025Age60 Place of deathWells Type of hearingRead InquestHeld atWells
Date and time26 March at 3pmDeceasedAlan FergussonDate of death12 August 2024Age85 Place of deathMusgrove Park HospitalType of hearingRead InquestHeld atWells
Date and time27 March at 10am DeceasedPenelope JoblingDate of death6 October 2024Age61 Place of deathShepton Mallet Type of hearingRead InquestHeld atWells
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 hearingTBCHeld atTaunton
Date and time27 March at 12pm DeceasedPhilip Cuff Date of death4 August 2024Age56 Place of deathMusgrove Park HospitalType of hearingRead InquestHeld atWells
Date and time27 March at 2pm DeceasedTerence Eaton Date of death29 July 2024Age80 Place of deathTaunton Type of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time28 March at 10am DeceasedDianne Timms Date of death6 November 2024Age52 Place of deathStreet Type of hearingRead InquestHeld atWells
Date and time28 March at 11.30am DeceasedMichael Miles Date of death26 October 2024Age84 Place of deathYeovil District Hospital Type of hearingRead InquestHeld atWells
Date and time28 March at 1pm DeceasedWilliam Bath Date of death19 June 2024Age75 Place of deathBridgwater Type of hearingRead InquestHeld atWells
Date and time28 March at 2pm DeceasedClaire Sunley Date of death12 March 2024Age47 Place of deathHighbridge Type of hearingRead InquestHeld atWells
Date and time31 March at 10am DeceasedChristine Vennell Date of death2 April 2024Age78Place of deathFromeType of hearingTBCHeld atTaunton
Date and time31 March at 10am DeceasedJustin Coombes Date of death9 August 2024Age50 Place of deathMartock Type of hearingRead InquestHeld atWells

Inquests listed for final hearing April 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 – April 2025 table at full width
Date and timeDeceasedDate of deathAgePlace of deathType of hearingHeld at
Date and time1 April at 9.30am DeceasedJasmit HarrarDate of death23 May 2024Age38 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingInquest Held atTaunton
Date and time1 April at 10amDeceasedGeoffrey Hector Date of death28 December 2024Age77 Place of deathYeovil Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atWells
Date and time1 April at 12pmDeceasedGeorge Robins Date of death24 May 2024Age87Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atWells
Date and time1 April at 2pmDeceasedBenjamin Bolter Date of death22 May 2024Age57 Place of deathWells Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atWells
Date and time2 April at 10amDeceasedDaniel Cussans Date of death15 July 2022Age43 Place of deathPamplona Type of hearingPre-Inquest Review Hearing 2Held atTaunton
Date and time3 April at 10amDeceasedKatelyn SangerDate of death12 July 2024Age27Place of deathTauntonType of hearingRead InquestHeld atWells
Date and time3 April at 12pm DeceasedTia MooreDate of death2 October 2024Age61Place of deathMusgrove Park HospitalType of hearingRead InquestHeld atWells
Date and time3 April at 2pmDeceasedCarlole CentamoreDate of death14 May 2024Age69Place of deathYeovil District HospitalType of hearingRead InquestHeld atWells
Date and time4 April 10amDeceasedAdam JacksonDate of death14 June 2024Age39Place of deathYeovilType of hearingRead InquestHeld atWells
Date and time7-11 April at 10am DeceasedLisa-Ra Perkins Date of death13 August 2023Age34 Place of deathSomerton Type of hearingInquest Held atWells
Date and time7 April at 10am DeceasedPaul Parsons Date of death10 September 2024Age51 Place of deathChard Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time7 April at 12pmDeceasedOliver TongletDate of death4 September 2024Age29 Place of deathTaunton Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time7 April at 2pmDeceasedJane Whittaker Date of death 30 September 2024Age82 Place of deathLangport Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time8 April at 10am DeceasedHilary Hooper Date of death20 June 2024Age80 Place of deathNorth Curry Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time9 April at 10am DeceasedAngela Myerscough-Walker Date of death23 July 2024Age82 Place of deathWincanton Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time9 April at 12pmDeceasedAlexander Cater Date of death19 July 2024Age93 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingInquest Held atTaunton
Date and time9 April at 2pmDeceasedRichard Shutt Date of death14 September 2024Age39Place of deathCounty Down Northern Ireland Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time10 April at 10am DeceasedReginald Hole Date of death9 August 2024Age93 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time10 April at 12pmDeceasedVentura Williams Date of death9 December 2024Age58 Place of deathBurnham-on-Sea Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time10 April at 2pmDeceasedTijesuni Eyitao Date of death20 December 2024Age0 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time11 April at 10amDeceasedAaron Carey Date of death8 September 2024Age33 Place of deathYeovil Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time11 April at 2pmDeceasedAnthony Osmond Date of death5 October 2024Age88 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time14 April at 10am DeceasedSheila Orme Date of death18 September 2024Age90 Place of deathYeovil District Hospital Type of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time14 April at 1.30pmDeceasedMicah Stephenson Date of death20 April 2024Age28 Place of deathNorth Petherton Type of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time15 April at 10amDeceasedMaureen Rose Date of death25 November 2024Age87 Place of deathLangport Type of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time15 April at 12pmDeceasedDoris Jefferies Date of death22 November 2024Age89 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time15 April at 2pmDeceasedColin Gardner Date of death15 December 2024Age64 Place of deathNorton Fitzwarren Type of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time15 April at 3pmDeceasedIan Nield Date of death 7 January 2025Age79 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time16 April at 10amDeceasedDexter Fulcher Date of death1 June 2024Age28 Place of deathIlminster Type of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time16 April at 2.30pmDeceasedKevin WhiteDate of death16 July 2024Age54 Place of deathButleigh Type of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time22-23 April at 10am DeceasedMary Graham Date of death11 September 2019Age81 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingInquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time22 April at 10amDeceasedMichal Mokrzecki Date of death15 May 2024Age41 Place of deathWells Type of hearingInquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time22 April at 1pmDeceasedHoward Pierce Date of death 20 September 2024Age80 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time22 April at 2pmDeceasedGeoffrey Clarke Date of death25 December 2024Age64 Place of deathAxbridge Type of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time23 April at 10amDeceasedLorraine Hicks Date of death13 May 2024Age54 Place of deathBurnham-on-Sea Type of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time23 April at 12pmDeceasedHenri Kekkonen Date of death9 May 2024Age41 Place of deathGlastonbury Type of hearingRead Inquest Held atTaunton
Date and time23 April at 2pmDeceasedRudolf Schmidheiny Date of death27 August 2024Age75 Place of deathMinehead Type of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time24 April at 10amDeceasedDrew Parsons Date of death12 May 2024Age31 Place of deathBishops Hull Type of hearingInquest Held atTaunton
Date and time28 April at 10amDeceasedPeter Edgecombe Date of death22 May 2024Age69 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingInquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time28 April at 12pmDeceasedFrederick Cathcart Date of death30 December 2024Age24 Place of deathHinton Saint GeorgeType of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time28 April at 2pmDeceasedDonald Foster Date of death2 October 2024Age79 Place of deathSouthmead Hospital Type of hearingRead InquestHeld atTaunton
Date and time29 April at 10amDeceasedJean Waddon Date of death21 May 2024Age88 Place of deathMusgrove Park Hospital Type of hearingInquest Held atTaunton
Date and time30 April at 10amDeceasedChristine Ibbotson Date of death14 May 2024Age82 Place of deathSouthmead Hospital Type of hearingInquest Held atTaunton
Date and time30 April at 10amDeceasedPaul Wells Date of death25 June 2020Age39 Place of deathHighbridge Type of hearingPre-Inquest Review HearingHeld atWells

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.

information

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: March 31, 2025

Next review due: October 1, 2025

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