Inquests
Sarah has over 30 years of experience in representing all manner of interested persons in inquests including deaths in police custody, deaths in the workplace, deaths following medical intervention, and deaths in care.
She has represented family members, NHS Foundation trusts, corporate entities, healthcare professionals and individuals dealing with those in state custody.
Some of the inquests that Sarah has been instructed in have taken place after extremely thorough and complex criminal investigations. She has also represented those who may face criminal charges following the inquest.
Sarah has undertaken many Article 2 inquests and is fully familiar with associated case law and issues arising.
Sarah has a wealth of experience in dealing with complex and demanding cases involving expert evidence of all kinds, including the evidence of pathologists, scientists and accident investigators. Her strong regulatory and criminal practice ideally positions her to provide expert advice and continuing representation to clients where there are contemplated criminal, disciplinary and civil proceedings.
Inquests Cases
Inquest into the death of Kelly Hartigan-Burns – Article 2 inquest.
Inquest into the death of Nigel Abbott – Article 2 inquest. Acting on behalf of the Abbott family. A case that was not only factually complex, but also involved delicate questions regarding the behaviour of certain IPs/ witnesses. The coroner ultimately found arguable breaches of both the general and operational duty of the state, and identified numerous failings on behalf of the local Health Authority and City Council.
Inquest into the death of Majid Akhtar – Article 2 inquest. Acting on behalf of a Care Assistant. Complex issues involving the interested party given the potential for gross negligence manslaughter prosecution. IP was ultimately not charged with gross negligence manslaughter.
Inquest into the death of John James Bell – Article 2 inquest. Complex case involving an electrocution on the Gates Head metro. Newcastle Upon Tyne. Acted for the project manager and designer of the metro overhead lines system. One of the issues being whether a design fault had contributed to the death. The Coroner found it did not.
