Index card R (Smith) v Oxfordshire Assistant Deputy Coroner

Hearings

England & Wales

11 Apr 2008 [2008] EWHC 694 (Admin); [2011] 1 AC 1; [2008] 3 WLR 1284; [2008] ACD 45; The Times, 30 May 2008, QBD (Collins J)

18 May 2009 (Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening) [2009] EWCA Civ 441; [2011] 1 AC 1; [2009] 3 WLR 1099; [2009] 4 All ER 985; [2009] WLR (D) 158; [2009] ACD 54; (2009) 159 NLJ 790; The Times, 20 May 2009, CA (Sir Anthony Clarke MR, Keene, Dyson LJJ)

30 Jun 2010 [2010] UKSC 29; [2011] 1 AC 1; [2010] 3 WLR 223; [2010] 3 All ER 1067; [2010] HRLR 28; [2010] WLR (D) 165; (2010) 160 NLJ 973; The Times, 8 July 2010; Case details, SC(E) (Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers PSC, Lord Hope of Craighead DPSC, Lord Rodger of Earlsferry, Lord Walker of Gestingthorpe, Baroness Hale of Richmond, Lord Brown of Eaton-under-Heywood, Lord Mance, Lord Collins of Mapesbury, Lord Kerr of Tonaghmore JJSC)

Additional names

R (Secretary of State for Defence) v Oxfordshire Assistant Deputy Coroner

Subject Matter

CORONER — Inquest — Verdict — Soldier dying of hyperthermia while on duty in Iraq — Coroner's narrative verdict stating death caused by serious failure to address deceased's difficulty in adjusting to climate — Whether breaching prohibition against determining questions of civil liability — Coroners Rules 1984, r 42(b)

[2008] EWHC 694 (Admin); [2011] 1 AC 1; [2008] 3 WLR 1284; [2008] ACD 45; The Times, 30 May 2008, QBD

LAW REFORM — Whether necessary — Coroners Rules — Inquest required to comply with procedural requirements implicit in Convention right to life — Whether necessary to change rules prohibiting address on facts or determination of question of civil liability

[2008] EWHC 694 (Admin); [2011] 1 AC 1; [2008] 3 WLR 1284; [2008] ACD 45; The Times, 30 May 2008, QBD

LAW REFORM — Whether necessary — Inquest — Whether desirable for statute to set out clearly differences between inquest required to comply with procedural requirements implicit in Convention right to life and any other type of inquest

[2009] EWCA Civ 441; [2011] 1 AC 1; [2009] 3 WLR 1099; [2009] 4 All ER 985; [2009] WLR (D) 158; [2009] ACD 54; (2009) 159 NLJ 790; The Times, 20 May 2009, CA

HUMAN RIGHTS — Life — State's duty to investigate death — Soldier dying of hyperthermia sustained while carrying out duties off base in Iraq — Whether death of soldier within scope of Human Rights Convention or of legislation giving domestic effect to Convention — Whether procedural requirements implicit in Convention right to life applying to inquest into soldier's death — Human Rights Act 1998, Sch 1, Pt I, art 2 — Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (1953), art 1

[2008] EWHC 694 (Admin); [2011] 1 AC 1; [2008] 3 WLR 1284; [2008] ACD 45; The Times, 30 May 2008, QBD

Appellate History

R (Smith) v Oxfordshire Assistant Deputy Coroner [2008] EWHC 694 (Admin); [2011] 1 AC 1; [2008] 3 WLR 1284; [2008] ACD 45; The Times, 30 May 2008, QBD

Decision of Collins J affirmed

R (Smith) v Oxfordshire Assistant Deputy Coroner [2009] EWCA Civ 441; [2011] 1 AC 1; [2009] 3 WLR 1099; [2009] 4 All ER 985; [2009] WLR (D) 158; [2009] ACD 54; (2009) 159 NLJ 790; The Times, 20 May 2009, CA

Decision of the Court of Appeal varied

R (Smith) v Oxfordshire Assistant Deputy Coroner [2010] UKSC 29; [2011] 1 AC 1; [2010] 3 WLR 223; [2010] 3 All ER 1067; [2010] HRLR 28; [2010] WLR (D) 165; (2010) 160 NLJ 973; The Times, 8 July 2010; Case details, SC(E)

Commentary

Blackstones Criminal Practice 2025
Investigation of Crime - International Co-operation A7.32

Blackstones Civil Practice 2023
Remedies - Discretionary nature of remedies 77.54

Introduction 91.1