Inquests: A Conversation with the Chief Coroner of England and Wales
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Inquests: A Conversation with the Chief Coroner of England and Wales
TUESDAY 29 SEPTEMBER, 13.00-14.00
Featuring HHJ Lucraft QC, Chief Coroner for England and Wales
Chaired by Tom Forster QC with David Claxton and Aimee Riese of Red Lion Chambers
Article 2 inquests can provide a unique forum to understand “by what means and in what circumstances” a death occurred and to learn lessons to prevent future deaths.
This session will provide a unique opportunity to gain insights from the Chief Coroner on key developments in inquests and coronial law.
This Webinar will look at the following topics:
- The significance of recent case law;
- Developments in Chief Coroner’s Guidance, including Covid-19 Deaths and Possible Exposure in the Workplace;
- Disclosure: how to approach in an inquest; and,
- Reports to Prevent Future Deaths.
CHAIR
Tom Forster QC
Tom Forster QC took Silk in 2018. He practises in the fields of criminal justice and public law. He was appointed a Special Advocate in 2012 by the Attorney-General and regularly represents the interests of litigants in both public law and private law cases where closed material procedures have been adopted because of national security issues. He practices in SIAC and has been instructed in a number of TPIM cases. He has regularly appeared in coronial Inquests.
PANELLISTS
HHJ Lucraft QC
Chief Coroner of England and Wales
His Honour Judge Mark Lucraft QC was appointed the second Chief Coroner of England and Wales on 18 August 2016. He was called to the Bar in 1984 and took Silk in 2006 taking an appointment to the Circuit Bench in July 2012. He was authorised to sit as a Deputy High Court Judge under section 9(1) on 22 November 2016, and appointed a Senior Circuit Judge at the Central Criminal Court on 7 February 2017. On 14 April 2020 he took up office as the Recorder of London: the senior judge at the Central Criminal Court. He was responsible for holding the Inquests into the deaths in the terror attacks at Westminster Bridge on 22 March 2017 and London Bridge and Borough Market on 3 June 2017.
David Claxton
Barrister at Red Lion Chambers
David has a broad practice which is focussed on cases involving companies and professionals in relation to criminal and regulatory wrongdoing. He has experience of acting for and against statutory regulators in cases involving fatalities in hospital / medical settings and represented professionals accused of culpable omissions leading to deaths in inquests, before professional conduct tribunals and in the criminal courts. He also has expertise in prosecutions brought by the HSE and local authorities resulting from workplace accidents leading to death and serious injury.
Aimee Riese
Barrister at Red Lion Chambers
In addition to her criminal practice, Aimee has a practice in inquiries and inquests. Aimee was junior counsel to the Inquest Touching Upon the Death of Ellie Butler, led by Adam Wiseman QC. She is currently First Junior to Counsel to the Chair of the Dame Linda Dobbs Review, the review is considering whether issues in relation to HBOS Reading were investigated and appropriately reported by Lloyds Banking Group.
Aimee has an LLM in Human Rights Law, where she focused on the extent to which the inquest system offers sufficient protection for deaths in custody. She has completed the specialist Coroners and Inquest Course at KCL, taught by the former Chief Coroner Sir Peter Thornton QC. She has been published on these topics [HERE]
- Tom Forster QC (Chair)
- HHJ Lucraft QC, Chief Coroner for England and Wales
- David Claxton
- Aimee Riese