Narrative verdict explained

A narrative verdict is a verdict available to coroners in England and Wales and in Ireland following an inquest.^[1] In such a verdict the circumstances of a death are recorded,^{[2] [3]} being a brief free-form, factual statement (either instead of, or in addition to, one of the standard, and familiar, Short-Form Conclusions), which does not attribute the cause to an individual.^[4] Narrative verdicts were introduced to England and Wales in 2004.^[5]

Historical examples

The inquest into the death of Charlotte Shaw concluded with a narrative verdict in October 2010. Charlotte Shaw drowned while crossing a swollen stream on Dartmoor during training for Ten Tors in 2007.^[6]

A coroner delivered a narrative verdict into the death of Secret Intelligence Service officer Gareth Williams whose decaying corpse was found padlocked into a red sports bag in the bath at his home in August 2010.^[7]

Notes and References

1. News: Joe . Leogue . Inquest hears man, 84, drove in wrong direction on motorway before fatal collision in 2016. 31 January 2018. .
2. News: Kit delays led to soldier's death . . 2008-04-01 . 18 December 2006.
3. Web site: Chronology of proceedings - Work Related Deaths and Inquests - Enforcement Guide (England & Wales) . .
4. News: What is a narrative verdict? . 16 December 2020 . ITV News . en.
5. News: Mistakes, missed chances and a young life lost . https://web.archive.org/web/20120507031507/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/3351432/Mistakes-missed-chances-and-a-young-life-lost.html . dead . 7 May 2012 . Grice, Elizabeth . 1 October 2009 . 1 October 2009 . . London.
6. News: Coroner calls for safety improvements at Ten Tors inquest. Savill. Richard. 26 October 2010. Daily Telegraph . 4 March 2017.
7. News: MI6 death: Gareth Williams 'probably' killed unlawfully. BBC News . 2 May 2012. 2 May 2012.