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Coroner's Inquests

There are situations in Ontario where a Coroner’s Inquest is called with respect to major accidents in which death in involved, incidents of death by police action or death as a result of fire or other matters involving the safety and health of an individual that causes fatality.  At a Coroner’s Inquest, a coroner is the presiding official and a jury composed of six individuals listens to evidence forwarded by the Crown Attorney and witnesses before the inquest. It should be noted that an inquest does not determine guilt or innocence of any particular individual; it is a determination as to what happened and suggests recommendations for an incident not to happen again. 

You may be represented by counsel at a Coroner’s Inquest, if you are in any way part of the incident that requires the inquest to be heard.  Your counsel can ask questions of the witnesses provided by the Crown in order to assist in representing your interests. Again, there is no finding of guilt or innocence in this inquest, simply a determination of what occurred, who was at fault and what recommendations can be made.

If you require representation at a Coroner's Inquest, contact one of our criminal lawyers at Evans, Bragagnolo & Sullivan in Timmins or Temiskaming Shores.