Coroner
The Acting Senior Coroner for East Sussex is Fiona King, an independent judicial officer presiding over a Court of Record within the English Judicial system.
East Sussex also has four Assistant Coroners, namely James Healy-Pratt, Rachel Redman, Michael Spencer and Laura Bradford.
Although appointed and paid by local councils, the Coroner is not a local government officer but holds office under the Crown and operates completely independently of East Sussex County Council, Sussex Police and all other institutions.
The Coroner is responsible for the investigation of all violent or unnatural deaths, sudden deaths of unknown cause and deaths in custody which are reported to him.
A death may be reported for a number of reasons. It does not mean that there is anything suspicious about the death, it may be that the doctor is unsure of the exact cause or that the person has died earlier than expected, suffered from an industrial disease, died during a surgical operation, or before recovery from an anaesthetic.
The Guide to coroner services and coroner investigations (GOV.UK) tells you what standards of performance are to be expected in the East Sussex Coroner service, and what to do if something goes wrong.
The Coroner discharges his duties in accordance with the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, the Coroners Rules 2013, and other relevant legislation.
We understand how difficult it can be when someone close to us dies. The feelings of shock, sadness, loss and bewilderment can be very strong. It is also a time when there are many things to be done, just when we may feel least able to do them.
The Coroner’s Office will do all they can to assist you during this time.
The Bereavement Advice Centre supports and advises people on what they need to do after a death.
What do I do if someone dies suddenly?
In the first instance, contact your GP or the local police.
The police, acting for the Coroner, will, if necessary, arrange for a local funeral director to attend to move the deceased. In most cases the deceased’s own doctor or a hospital doctor will be able to give a medical cause of death. If the death occurs at night or at a weekend there may be a delay in contacting the deceased’s GP.
Why are the police involved?
In some circumstances, the police act as Coroner’s Officers. It is not always possible for an officer to be in plain clothes, so although the officer may be in uniform, in this instance he or she will not be acting as a police officer. A full-time Coroner’s Officer may also attend.
A visit by the police should not make anybody think there is anything suspicious about the death.
The purpose of the visit is to obtain the information that the Coroner needs to conduct his enquiries and to provide the correct personal information to the Registrar.
You will be given a telephone number for the Coroner’s office and a Coroner’s Officer will be assigned and will be able to answer any questions you may have.
The duties of a Coroner’s Officer are:
- to act as the representative of the Coroner in the investigation of any death
- to gather all the circumstances surrounding the death of an individual
- to attend and record scenes of death including out of hours on a callout basis
- to liaise with the family regarding the procedures involved in the conduct of the Coroner’s inquiry
- to contact the Coroner on your behalf if you so wish and to guide you through the time leading up to an Inquest if one is necessary
- to liaise with the witnesses regarding their involvement in the Inquest
What if the deceased dies unexpectedly in hospital?
If the death occurs in hospital, the Coroner can arrange for the post-mortem examination to be carried out by a pathologist other than one employed at or connected with that hospital, if a relative asks the Coroner to do so and if it does not cause an undue delay.
What happens if the deceased wished to be an organ donor?
Where a death is referred to the Coroner and the person concerned has consented to organ donation, organ or tissue donation can still take place but the agreement of the Coroner is needed.
In such circumstances contact will be made with the Coroner and, having obtained the necessary information from medical staff, the Coroner will decide whether to agree to donation.
The Coroner is very anxious to support organ donation and to comply with the wishes of the person who has died but must also be satisfied that any donation will not interfere with the Coroner’s duty to investigate the cause of death. There are some circumstances where the Coroner will not be in a position to give permission.
Why are organs sometimes removed from the body of the deceased and what happens to these?
Sometimes the pathologist needs to carry out a more detailed investigation of particular organs in order to establish the cause of death. If this is done then the pathologist must tell the Coroner for how long the organs should be retained. The Coroner will notify the family of this and ask them to confirm what they wish to happen to the organs at the end of that period.
Usually, the pathologist only needs to take a very small sample of an organ, rather than removing the organ itself. This sample then forms part of the deceased’s medical records.
More information is available from the Human Tissue Authority.
When can I get a death certificate or interim death certificate?
When the Coroner is given a cause of death by the doctor, the doctor and the Coroner will notify the Registrar of the death. This will happen normally within 24 hours.
You can then book an appointment to register the death.
If the Coroner has decided to hold an inquest or is awaiting further results from tissue analysis or other, then a full death certificate will not be available until after the inquest or investigation is concluded.
However to enable the family to deal with banks, insurance companies, pension providers, National Savings, or any other person who needs official confirmation of the death, the Coroner will, on request, issue an Interim Certificate as to the Fact Of Death, more commonly known as an Interim Death Certificate.
Present the interim certificate at a register office or email it to registrar@eastsussex.gov.uk to gain access to the Tell Us Once service.
The interim certificate is not a death certificate. The death certificate can be ordered from the Register Office at a later date. Order a death certificate.
Why have a post-mortem?
A post-mortem is an examination of the body of a person who has died. It is sometimes referred to as an autopsy.
If the deceased’s own GP or the hospital doctor cannot give a medical cause of death then an examination must take place to determine the cause.
Can I object to a post-mortem?
Although the Coroner will be mindful of any views held by members of the family it is for the Coroner alone to decide whether a post-mortem must take place. The Coroner has a legal duty to ascertain the cause of death, and if a doctor cannot satisfy the Coroner of this then a post-mortem examination must take place.
Who organises and pays for the transport of the deceased to and from the post-mortem?
The Coroner’s office will organise the removal of the deceased to and from the hospital and will pay for this service.
You are not obliged to retain the services of the funeral director appointed by the Coroner to transport the body of the deceased to and from the hospital and you may appoint a funeral director of your choice to organise the funeral.
Do I have to accept the result of a post-mortem?
No. You can ask the Coroner for a second post-mortem but this will be at your cost and you will need to make all the arrangements yourself.
Will a post-mortem delay the funeral?
Not usually. The Coroner and pathologist understand the desire on the part of the family to deal with matters expeditiously, particularly in cases where the religious or cultural beliefs of the family require a funeral to be held within a particular time period.
However there are some cases where a slight delay occurs. In such cases an explanation will be given to the family together with an estimate of how long the delay will be.
Can I have a copy of the post-mortem report?
The Coroner will usually supply a copy of the report to ‘Interested Persons’, immediate family, legal representatives and so on, on application in writing.
Should you read this report, please be aware that it has been prepared for the Coroner by the pathologist carrying out the examination.
It contains detailed and sensitive information about the post-mortem examination that may be confusing or upsetting for you. We highly recommend that you seek advice from a medical professional, such as your GP or hospital consultant, to help you fully understand it.
The Coroner’s Officer can only provide a limited explanation.
An inquest is a judicial process and a Coroner’s Court is a court of law.
The purpose of an inquest is to establish who the deceased person was, and when, where and how they died. However, unlike other court processes, the Coroner’s inquest is an inquiry and not a trial.
There are no ‘parties’ and the Coroner does not make ‘judgments’ about possible issues of blame or liability. An inquest is generally a fact-finding and not a fault-finding process.
In certain circumstances however, where a state organisation may have had responsibility for the person who has died, then the scope of the inquest will be wider and the hearing more comprehensive considering not only how the person died but also the circumstances in which the death occurred.
When will the inquest be held?
The vast majority of inquests are held within six months of the death.
Where will the inquest take place?
- The Coroner usually hears cases from the east side of the county on a Tuesday in:
Muriel Matters House (google maps)
Breeds Place,
Hastings
East Sussex
TN34 3UY
and cases from the west of the county on a Friday in:
The Town Hall (google maps)
Grove Road
Eastbourne
East Sussex
BN21 4UG
Do I have to go to the inquest?
You will normally need to attend if the Coroner calls you as a witness.
Inquests are public hearings and anyone may attend.
What happens in an inquest?
The Coroner will introduce the inquest explaining who everyone is and what will be happening.
The Coroner will call and question the relevant witnesses who have to give evidence either by swearing an oath or making a declaration.
Family members and other properly ‘interested persons’ can ask questions of the witnesses after the Coroner has done so.
The Coroner will read any relevant statements.
The Coroner will summarise the evidence and then pronounce the conclusion (or where there is a jury, give them directions as to the range of conclusions which they can consider).
Will I have some support?
Yes. The Coroner’s Officer will be present to assist.
Find additional: local support services.
What is an inquest in writing?
These inquests are not heard in open court.
For an inquest in writing to take place, Coroners would have invited representations from family and interested persons as to whether there should be a formal hearing. In these cases, there is unlikely to be any disagreement in respect of the findings of the inquest and conducting a hearing would not be in the public interest. The Coroner will provide a written summary of their conclusion.
Why do some inquests have a jury?
A jury will only be required in certain circumstances, in particular when the death occurs in prison or police custody or results from an accident at work.
The procedure of a jury inquest is somewhat different, however the function and purpose remains the same.
What does it mean if I am called to serve on a Coroner’s jury?
The Coroner will explain at the start of the inquest everything that is expected of the jury in dealing with the case.
You will be able to claim allowances at prescribed rates for travelling, subsistence and for financial loss (such as loss of earnings) if you are called to serve on a jury.
What does being called as a witness to an inquest entail?
The Coroner makes the decision as to who should be called as witnesses to the inquest.
You will be told of the witnesses who are to attend. If you want to suggest the Coroner should call any additional person then you can ask the Coroner to consider calling such a person but the final decision will rest with the Coroner.
The Coroner can issue a formal notice requiring a witness to attend and to produce any relevant document to the inquest. If the person fails to attend then the Coroner may consider issuing a warrant enforcing their attendance.
The Coroner may decide to read written evidence at the inquest if it is not possible for the witness to give evidence at the inquest within a reasonable time, if there is a good reason why they should not attend or it is believed they will not attend the inquest or the evidence is unlikely to be disputed.
The Coroner will seek the views of the bereaved family and any interested persons before making a decision in this respect.
What happens when someone has been charged with causing the death?
In these circumstances the Coroner will adjourn the inquest until after the criminal court proceedings have been concluded. It may then be unnecessary to reopen the inquest.
Do I have to accept the conclusion of the inquest?
It is sometimes possible to challenge the conclusion of the inquest by way of an application to the High Court for a judicial review.
You should take legal advice about such a course of action as soon as possible after the Coroner has made a decision.
What happens if an inquest reveals a situation in which further deaths may be prevented and lessons could be learned?
At the conclusion of an inquest the Coroner may decide, in certain limited circumstances, that action may need to be taken to prevent or reduce the possibility of further fatalities and send a report to any authority with power to take such action.
Anybody who receives such a report must provide a response and copies of the report and response will be sent to the immediate family members and other properly ‘interested persons’.
Will the press be present?
With the exception of inquests in writing, inquests have to be held in public and the media are entitled to attend.
Media and other observers
Inquest hearings are held in public and members of the public, including the media, are welcome to attend Court in person to observe.
The Coroner has a power (but not a duty) to permit members of the public, including the media, to attend a hearing remotely by video or audio link. Any application to observe a hearing remotely must be made by 10am on the day before the hearing, in writing to Coroner's Officers explaining why permission is sought and providing the name and address of each proposed observer. Applications will be considered in accordance with Chief Coroner's Guidance No. 42 (remote hearings).
It is a summary offence and a contempt of court to record or transmit or attempt to record or transmit any video, image or sound of any Court hearing. That includes transmitting or recording a hearing taking place via video link or taking or allowing anyone else to take any screenshot or video capture of the hearing using any device, including a phone.
Inquest openings
Inquests will be formally opened in the 15 minutes before the listed start time of the first full inquest.
| Date of opening | Name | Age | Date of death | Place of death | Location of opening | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19/04/2024 | Victor King | 78 | 19/03/2024 | Royal Sussex County Hospital | Eastbourne Town Hall | ||
| 19/04/2024 | David Homewood | 65 | 15/01/2024 | Uckfield | Eastbourne Town Hall | ||
| 19/04/2024 | Julie Brockbank | 64 | 03/03/2024 | Hartfield | Eastbourne Town Hall | ||
| 19/04/2024 | Heidi Visser | 29 | 01/04/2024 | Eastbourne | Eastbourne Town Hall | ||
| 19/04/2024 | Annette Crotch | 74 | 04/04/2024 | Conquest Hospital | Eastbourne Town Hall | ||
| 23/04/2024 | John Enderson | 79 | 30/03/2024 | Conquest Hospital | Muriel Matters House | ||
| 26/04/2024 | Christine Elliott | 74 | 26/03/2024 | Newhaven | Eastbourne Town Hall | ||
| 26/04/2024 | Tracey Pike | 59 | 07/03/2024 | Heathfield | Eastbourne Town Hall | ||
| 26/04/2024 | Terence Dowling | 77 | 24/03/2024 | Spain | Eastbourne Town Hall |
Hastings Coroner’s Court
| Date | Time | Name | Age | Date of death | Place of death | Coroner’s officer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23/04/2024 | 11.00am | Steven Pass | 35 | 26/06/2023 | Etchingham | Maria Fabien |
| 30/04/2024 | 10.45am | Unknown Female | - | 29/04/2023 | Eastbourne | Bob Greenall |
| 30/04/2024 | 11.30am | Benjamin Pepper | 39 | 27/09/2023 | St Leonards on Sea | David Tye |
| 30/04/2024 | 2.00pm | Martin McGuinness | 22 | 14/03/2023 | Ringmer | Sophie Legros |
| 07/05/2024 | 10.00am | Ian McGhee | 63 | 11/08/2023 | Eastbourne | Maria Fabien |
| 07/05/2024 | 11.30am | Kenneth Galloway | 85 | 22/06/2023 | Conquest Hospital | David Tye |
| 07/05/2024 | 2.00pm | Stephen Cunningham-King | 69 | 27/10/2023 | St Leonards on Sea | David Tye |
| 14/05/2024 | 10.00am | Marcus Jones | 34 | 01/03/2023 | Conquest Hospital | Sarah Cockram |
Eastbourne Coroner’s Court
| Date | Time | Name | Age | Date of death | Place of death | Coroner's officer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19/04/2024 | 11.30am | Frederick Saunders | 87 | 17/06/2023 | Eastbourne District General Hospital | David Tye |
| 19/04/2024 | 2.00pm | Gregory Moss | 35 | 20/09/2022 | Lewes | Maria Fabien |
| 26/04/2024 | 10.00am | Carol Divall | 74 | 29/10/2022 | Eastbourne | David Tye |
| 26/04/2024 | 2.00pm | Peter Brice | 80 | 30/07/2023 | Rye | Reggie Jones |
| 26/04/2024 | 3.00pm | Debra McGlue | 56 | 28/07/2022 | Conquest Hospital | Sophie Legros |
| 03/05/2024 | 10.00am | Dale Slade | 38 | 26/04/2023 | Eastbourne | Reggie Jones |
| 10/05/2024 | 10.00am | Katie Rands | 47 | 18/07/2023 | Eastbourne District General Hospital | Bob Greenall |
| 10/05/2024 | 2.00pm | Alexander Imich | 37 | 23/06/2023 | Eastbourne | Bob Greenall |
| 10/05/2024 | 3.30pm | James Fitzpatrick | 39 | 09/03/2023 | Hastings | Sophie Legros |
| 17/05/2024 | 10.00am | Peter Lowe | 74 | 02/07/2023 | Mayfield | Sophie Legros |
| 17/05/2024 | 2.00pm | Joseph Mattelaer | 24 | 01/08/2023 | Lewes | Sophie Legros |
Inquests in writing
The following inquests in writing will be heard during the course of the week as listed below:
| Week commencing | Name | Age | Date of death | Place of death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15/04/2024 | Margaret Batty | 82 | 11/05/2023 | Conquest Hospital |
| 29/04/2024 | Jean Bailey | 91 | 15/08/2023 | Conquest Hospital |
| 29/04/2024 | Joao Da Silva | 54 | 07/09/2023 | Eastbourne |
| 29/04/2024 | Gwyneth Christie | 96 | 23/02/2023 | Conquest Hospital |
All queries regarding treasure should be referred to the Finds Liaison Officer for Sussex, Jane Clark, on 01273 405 731 or emailed to flo@sussexpast.co.uk
Coroner's Officers
-
from 1st April 2023.
The Coroner's Officers for Sussex are all now employed by West Sussex County Council resulting in an interim email domain. The two separate jurisdictions (East Sussex and West Sussex, Brighton and Hove) remain and updated email domains are being set up. The office email addresses will be amended in the coming weeks and updated details will be published here.
East Sussex Coroner's Officers
033022 23599
eastsussexcoroners@westsussex.gov.uk
Should you wish to contact the Coroner's Administration Office, their contact details remain the same.
Administrative office
Coroner’s Office (East Sussex)
Unit 56
Innovation Centre
Highfield Drive
St Leonards on Sea
East Sussex
TN38 9UH
Telephone: 01424 723 030
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