Verdicts

Question 1

Verdict – What is it?

Colloquial term

Answer 1

• An inquest into a death reaches a ‘determination’
• It used to be a verdict
• The term ‘verdict’ is still used colloquially.

Question 2

What is an open verdict?

Answer 2

An ‘open verdict’ is used when a coroner fails to reach any conclusion and it is unclear what caused the death

Question 3

A narrative verdict

Answer 3

• A narrative verdict is the most commonly used term these days – the coroner will read out a short summary of what he or she has found to have happened.

Eg: “XXX died of a medical cause of death of immersion hypothermia and acute intoxication and Diazepam consumption.

“XXX and her partner had been drinking during the evening as well as spending time in the paddling swimming pool where both bodies were discovered.”