How To Guide: Being Called To Give Evidence At An Inquest

Directors, managers and employees from all manner of companies and organisations can be called to give evidence at inquests — sometimes about things they have personally done or seen, but sometimes also about the company's/organisation's policies and procedures. Many witnesses at an Inquest will have no prior knowledge or experience of the coronial process. This article seeks to provide some basic guidance for witnesses giving evidence at an inquest.

What is an inquest and what is it seeking to achieve?

An inquest is an investigation into a death which appears to be due to unknown, violent or unnatural causes. The inquest is required in law to answer the four statutory questions; who, where, when and how, that is, by what means did the deceased come by their death. The answer to these questions enable the coroner to decide upon the medical cause of