What happens at an inquest?

[Doesanyoneknowplease]

If a coroner calls an inquest for a death please can anyone who has actually been to one or have first hand knowledge of how they are conducted tell me a bit about what happens and where they are held etc
Thankyou

I'm no expert by any means but I believe an inquest is to establish the exact cause of death. I understand that they will literally say exactly why/how the person died, for example when the formula 1 driver Ayrton Senna died the inquest said a piece of the suspension system from the vehicle went through his head (sorry if tmi), which killed him. This is why family members sometimes choose not to go to inquests. I think they are usually held at the nearest town hall, or similar, to where the death happened

They are held in a small room where only immediate members of the family are present. The coroner hears evidence from the parties involved and then gives judgement on how the person died (i.e accidental death or natural causes, whatever). It is just to establish what to put on the death certificate and to give closure to the families. They can go into some detail, but usually it's a short and straightforward procedure.

The people directly involved to have to speak and answer questions and the coroner then asks if anyone else would like to say anything.

I went to 2, one where a little girl was knocked down and one where an old man was run over on a pedestrian crossing. They were both every emotional. I was doing a spot of journalism at the time.

I went to my mum's - and found it very comforting actually. As NAM says, it's to establish the cause of death.

It was sort of 'this is to confirm xxxxx died as a result of xxxxxxx. My condolences to the family and can only assume that had xxxxx known of the existing medical condition, she may have been able to take actions to prevent such an untimely death.'

Thanks for your replies.
If there is any question, or allegation from other bodies, of negligence, in for example the death of a resident in a residential home, what would happen next? I mean if there had been no criminal investigation up until questions being raised at an inquest what could the coroner do?

DAKP my dh is a medical lawyer and does inquests I will fwd this to him now

Thankyou CountessDracula - very much appreciated.

No prob, I have to go home now and he hasn't replied but I will try and post tonight or in the morning

I've been to a couple of inquests, the room can look a little like a court in layout and in some cases a jury will be present (when a verdict is "returned" rather than "recorded" by the coroner him/herself - who can be a lawyer or a doctor) though the atmosphere is far less formal and the coroner normally takes time to explain to the family exactly what is happening. Witnesses who may know about how the person died can be called and the family can question them directly or through their solicitor.