Where and when is the Inquest held?

The inquest is usually held in the “H.V. Benest Room” on the ground floor of Morier House: very occasionally, a courtroom is used. The inquest is held as soon as practicable after all enquiries have been completed, subject to any wishes expressed by the family. In a straightforward case this is usually within two weeks of the death. More complicated enquiries inevitably take longer to complete and, sometimes, about six weeks may be needed for the chemical treatment of tissue samples prior to their histological (microscopic) examination by the pathologist. Delays may also be caused by the need to bring back an off-Island pathologist, such specialists frequently having heavily-booked diaries. Cases involving prescribed and controlled drugs may also suffer delays because of the complications attached to chemical analyses. However, every effort is made to hold the inquest as soon as possible.

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