Inquiry not to be adjourned solely on Krounds of criminal proceedings arising out of death of deceased.
Resumption and non- resumption of inquiry.
Recognizance
to be void in certain circumstances.
Coroner to inform Regis- trar, Supreme Coun of adjournment in certain
Malters to be ascertained at an inquiry.
(EAD. 174)
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19. Subject to subsection (2) of section 14 of the Ordinance and to rule 18 an inquiry shall not be adjourned solely by reason of the institution of criminal proceedings arising out of the death of the deceased.
20. (1) If an inquiry which has been adjourned in pursuance of subsection (2) of section 14 of the Ordinance is not to be resumed, the coroner shall notify the jurors, the witnesses, the Commissioner of Police and any other person appearing in person or represented at the inquiry that the inquiry will not be resumed.
(2) If an inquiry which has been adjourned as aforesaid is to be resumed, the coroner shall give reasonable notice of the date, hour and place at which the inquiry will be resumed to the jurors. the witnesses, the Commissioner of Police and any other person appearing in person or represented at the inquiry.
21. When any witness or juror who has been bound over to altend at an adjourned inquiry, whether without further notice or conditionally on receiving further notice, is notified by the coroner that his attendance at the adjourned inquiry is not required or that the inquiry will not be resumed, the recognizance entered into by him shall be void.
22. When a magistrate commits a person for trial on a charge of murder, manslaughter, infanticide or causing death by danger- ous driving, and the coroner who is responsible for holding an inquiry on the body adjourns the inquiry in pursuance of sub- section (2) of section 14 of the Ordinance, the coroner shall inform the Registrar of the Supreme Court of such adjournment.
23. The proceedings and evidence at an inquiry shall be directed solely to ascertaining the following matters--
(a) the identity of the deceased;
(b) how, when and where the deceased came by his death; (c) the persons, if any, to be charged with murder, man- slaughter, infanticide or causing death by dangerous driving, or of being accessories before the fact should the jury find that the deceased came by his death by murder, manslaughter, infanticide or dangerous driving:
(d) the particulars for the time being required by the Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance to be registered concerning the death.
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24. (1) Neither the coroner nor the jury shall express any opinion on any matters other than those referred to in rule 23.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) the coroner or the jury may make a recommendation designed to prevent the recurrence of fatalities similar to that in respect of which the inquiry is being held.
25. (1) Documentary evidence as to how the deceased came by his death shall not be admissible at an inquiry unless the coroner is satisfied that there is good and sufficient reason why the maker of the document should not attend the inquiry,
(2) If such documentary evidence is admitted at an inquiry, the inquiry shall be adjourned to enable the maker of the document to give oral evidence if the coroner or any properly interested person so desires.
26. All exhibits produced in evidence at an inquiry shall be marked with consecutive numbers and each number shall be preceded by the letter “C”.
27. The coroner shall take notes of the evidence or deposi- tions at every inquiry except in cases of murder, manslaughter, infanticide or death by dangerous driving when he shall take depositions.
28. No person shall be allowed to address the coroner or the jury as to the facts.
29. When the coroner sits with a jury, he shall sum up the evidence to the jury and direct them as to the law before they consider their verdict and shall draw their attention to rules 23. 24, 30 and 31 of these rules.
30. No verdict shall be framed in such a way as to appear to determine any question of civil liability.
31. The coroner shall not record any rider unless the rider is, in the opinion of the coroner, designed to prevent the recurrence of fatalities similar to that in respect of which the inquiry is being held.
Records, DoCUMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
32. A coroner shall keep an indexed register of all deaths reported to him which shall contain the particulars specified in Form 7 set out in the Schedule to the Coroners (Forms) Rules.
Opinions not to be expressed on malters other than those in rule 23.
Admissibility of documentary evidence.
Exhibiu to be marked.
Coroner to
Bake notes of evidence or depositions.
Facts.
Dulics of
coroner as
l matters
of law and evidence.
Civil liability not to be determined.
Riders.
Register of deaths
(Clp, H, tab. Jagj