Where there is a criminal investigation into the death, there may be more than one post mortem examination. The Coroner will make every effort for the body to be released for burial or cremation at the earliest opportunity. If, however, no one has been charged in connection with the death within one month of the discovery of the body, the Coroner may arrange a second post mortem examination by a second Pathologist who is independent of the one who carried out the first examination. This will be made available to the defence team if someone is charged with being responsible for the death in the future. The body will then be released at the earliest opportunity.
Where someone has been charged with causing, allowing or assisting a death, for example by murder or manslaughter, any Coroner investigation being carried out must be suspended and any inquest adjourned, until the criminal trial is over. On suspending an investigation, the Coroner must send the Registrar or Births and Deaths a certificate stating the information that is needed to register the death and to issue a death certificate.
When the trial is over, the Coroner will decide whether to resume the investigation. If, for example, all the facts surrounding the death have emerged at the trial, it is not usually necessary to continue the inquest. However, if the investigation is resumed the finding of the cause of death must be consistent with the outcome of the criminal trial. The Coroner's office will be able to provide more information on the process.
