What is a Coroner?

Coroners are independent judicial office holders. Most Coroners are qualified lawyers but some are doctors.

In Cheshire, we have a full time Senior Coroner and an Area Coroner. The Area Coroner is the Senior Coroner’s deputy, Cheshire also has several Assistant Coroners. Area and Assistant Coroners are qualified in the same way as the Senior Coroner. They have the same authority as a Senior Coroner when dealing with deaths and hearing inquests.

The role of the Coroner

Coroners will investigate where a death was violent or unnatural, where the cause of death is unknown, where the deceased died in custody or otherwise in state detention, or if the death requires investigation for some other reason.

When a Coroner receives notification that a body is lying within their Coroner area, they will carry out inquiries and investigations as appropriate. Coroners have power to have a body taken to the mortuary and to retain the body for so long as is required to carry out investigations. This can include authorising a post-mortem examination in order to find out what was the medical cause of death.

The nature and extent of the Coroner’s investigations will vary depending upon the case. This may involve consulting with the doctor who last treated the person who has died, and a post‑mortem examination may be needed, in some cases the Coroner will open an investigation or an inquest.

The Coroner will always be mindful of funeral arrangements and will try to avoid interfering with these arrangements while making sure that all appropriate investigations are properly carried out.

Coroner’s staff

In Cheshire, the Coroners are supported by a team of administrative staff, as well as a team of Coroner’s Officers. The administrative staff are employed by the council and the Coroner’s Officers are employed by Cheshire Police.

The Coroner’s Officers receive reports of deaths and they make various inquiries on behalf of the Coroner. Coroner’s Officers communicate with the deceased person’s relatives on behalf of the Coroner. If the Coroner opens an investigation or an inquest into a person’s death, a Coroner’s Officer will be nominated to be the personal point of contact with the next of kin or the family of the person who has died.

The police

If an inquest is opened into a death, a police officer may contact the family of the person who has died. This does not necessarily mean that there are any suspicious circumstances surrounding the death. It may simply be that a statement is required to be taken or that other evidence is required to be obtained on behalf of the Coroner. The police may take the statement or obtain the evidence on the Coroner’s behalf.

Inquests

Inquest hearings are held at the Coroner’s Court. In Cheshire, the main Coroner’s Court is located in Warrington at the Coroner’s Office. Inquests are also held in St James Business Centre, which is also located in Warrington.

In Cheshire, the Coroner’s Court is located in St James Business Centre, Warrington. Inquests are also held in the West Annexe of Warrington Town Hall.

Inquest openings

Inquest openings, adjournments, written inquests and open and close Inquest hearings, from 9am on Wednesday 27 September 2023 at Cheshire Coroners Court, St James Business Centre, Wilderspool Causeway, Warrington, WA4 6PS:

Inquest Openings

John Paul Pratt

Robert Keith Wallace

Christopher Antoni Gojka

Stephen James Fisher

Samantha Jane Bradley

Mary Gwendoline Malkin

Stephen Leslie Powell

Michael H'adrian Smith

Gerald Davies

Sam Swain

Beryl Smith

John Keith Gamble

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Open and close inquest hearings:

Lorraine Williamson

Anthony David Richardson

Audrey Butterworth

John Cornes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Written inquest:

Stephen Paul Crowley

Wayne Spare

 

 

Suspensions / Adjournments

 

 

Treasure Inquest Openings:

 

 

Inquest hearings in the next seven days

Hearing date:
Time:
10:00
Venue:
Cheshire Coroner’s Court: West Annexe
Of: Alan Eric MARSHALL
Age:
55
Find date:
Find location:
Coroner:
Charlotte Keighley, Assistant Coroner
Hearing type:
Inquest
Jury case:
No
Hearing date:
Time:
10:00
Venue:
Cheshire Coroner’s Court: West Annexe
Of: Monica RENSHAW
Age:
93
Find date:
Find location:
Coroner:
Charlotte Keighley, Assistant Coroner
Hearing type:
Inquest
Jury case:
No
Hearing date:
Time:
14.00
Venue:
Cheshire Coroner’s Court: West Annexe
Of: Cynthia SMITH
Age:
77
Find date:
Find location:
Coroner:
Victoria Davies, Area Coroner
Hearing type:
Inquest
Jury case:
No
Hearing date:
Time:
14.00
Venue:
Cheshire Coroner’s Court: West Annexe
Of: Imogen Leah Maria MELLOR
Age:
29
Find date:
Find location:
Coroner:
Charlotte Keighley, Assistant Coroner
Hearing type:
Pre-Inquest review hearing
Jury case:
No
Hearing date:
Time:
15.00
Venue:
Cheshire Coroner’s Court: West Annexe
Of: Salim SAKARIA
Age:
48
Find date:
Find location:
Coroner:
Charlotte Keighley, Assistant Coroner
Hearing type:
Pre-Inquest review hearing
Jury case:
No
Hearing date:
Time:
10:00
Venue:
Cheshire Coroner’s Court: West Annexe
Of: Ben James EVANS
Age:
20
Find date:
Find location:
Coroner:
Charlotte Keighley, Assistant Coroner
Hearing type:
R.23 Inquest
Jury case:
No
Hearing date:
Time:
11:00
Venue:
Cheshire Coroner’s Court: West Annexe
Of: Warren Robert BLAKE
Age:
44
Find date:
Find location:
Coroner:
Charlotte Keighley, Assistant Coroner
Hearing type:
Treasure
Jury case:
No
Hearing date:
Time:
12:00
Venue:
Cheshire Coroner’s Court: West Annexe
Of: Andrew Craig CAPPER
Age:
37
Find date:
Find location:
Coroner:
Charlotte Keighley, Assistant Coroner
Hearing type:
R.23 Inquest
Jury case:
No
Hearing date:
Time:
14.00
Venue:
Cheshire Coroner’s Court: West Annexe
Of: Daniel Lee HAYNES
Age:
28
Find date:
Find location:
Coroner:
Charlotte Keighley, Assistant Coroner
Hearing type:
Pre-Inquest review hearing
Jury case:
No
Hearing date:
Time:
14:00
Venue:
Cheshire Coroner’s Court: West Annexe
Of: Edward WHITFIELD
Age:
83
Find date:
Find location:
Coroner:
Alexander Frodsham, Assistant Coroner
Hearing type:
Inquest
Jury case:
No
Hearing date:
Time:
10.00
Venue:
Cheshire Coroner’s Court: West Annexe
Of: Valerie Margaret NEWTON
Age:
80
Find date:
Find location:
Coroner:
Alexander Frodsham, Assistant Coroner
Hearing type:
Inquest
Jury case:
No
Hearing date:
Time:
10:00
Venue:
Cheshire Coroner’s Court: West Annexe
Of: Benjamin John MEAH
Age:
20
Find date:
Find location:
Coroner:
Charlotte Keighley, Assistant Coroner
Hearing type:
Inquest
Jury case:
No
Hearing date:
Time:
14:00
Venue:
Cheshire Coroner’s Court: West Annexe
Of: Jasmine Caroline Hazel TURNER
Age:
30
Find date:
Find location:
Coroner:
Elizabeth Wheeler, Assistant Coroner
Hearing type:
Inquest
Jury case:
No

Coroners

Senior coroner:
Jacqueline Devonish BA (Hons), DipFMS

Area coroners:
Victoria Davies LLB (Hons)

 

Contact

Coroner’s Office, St James Business Centre, Wilderspool Causeway, Warrington
WA4 6PS

Administration office:
Telephone: 01925 444216
email: coronersadminteam@warrington.gov.uk

Coroner's officers:
Telephone: 01606 363892
email: coroners@cheshire.police.uk

Office hours:
Monday to Thursday - 8:30am to 4:30pm
Friday - 8:30am to 4pm