Inquests
Death in Custody Inquest (2022) – 6 week Inquest touching upon the death of KHB, a detained person in police custody, at Preston Coroner’s Court acting for PC Price, one of the arresting officers. No adverse findings made against this officer.
Inquest representing Naveed Gill (2019) – defending in an inquest concerning death following car accident alleging defective vehicle responsible and defending those responsible for service/ repairs to vehicle. No adverse findings.
Richard is not only Head of the Manchester Criminal Department but also Head of Professional Discipline within chambers.
Inquests Cases
Illustrative cases include:
Richard represented the interests of a nurse at an inquest alleged to have been responsible for the death of a new born baby. The case attracted national media attention. It was alleged that the death was a direct consequence of the treatment administered by the nurse. Complex issues of neglect, causation and expert evidence. The conclusion reached was natural causes.
Richard was involved in a long inquest in 2014 at Wakefield Coroner’s Court touching into the death of a baby in 2009 at Leeds Royal Infirmary. There were a number of medical interested persons. Richard represented the most senior Intensive Care Consultant who was criticised for deciding not to admit the baby into Intensive Care (PICU) sooner. There had been a catalogue of errors made by junior medics and Registrars and all were attempting to attribute blame elsewhere. Richard challenged the quality of the investigation by the Trust and exposed the fact that in 2009 fatalities in PICU were higher, the numbers of doctors and nurses were lower, there was no bed space in PICU in 2009 and medical personnel were regularly being forced to breach hospital policy and procedure to treat patients effectively. The Coroner found there had been neglect and that was inevitable but importantly the neglect was systemic within the hospital with a lack of resources being a huge contributing factor and importantly individual departments or doctors were not blamed. The case received National media attention and was raised in the House of Commons.
Death in Custody Inquest (2022) – 6 week Inquest touching upon the death of KHB, a detained person in police custody, at Preston Coroner’s Court acting for PC Price, one of the arresting officers. No adverse findings made against this officer.
Inquest representing Naveed Gill (2019) – defending in an inquest concerning death following car accident alleging defective vehicle responsible and defending those responsible for service/ repairs to vehicle. No adverse findings.
