Standard of Proof for Suicide in Inquests

R (on the application of Thomas Maughan) v Senior Coroner for Oxfordshire [2018] EWHC 1955 (Admin)

On 26 July, Leggatt LJ, sitting with Nicol J, handed down a judgment that challenges the long-held view that suicide must be proved to the criminal standard of proof in an inquest. Leggatt LJ, considering the purpose of modern coroner’s courts and the relevant jurisprudence, held that the correct standard of proof to be applied is the normal civil standard of balance of probabilities.

Read more in this alerter by Freya Foster. Freya is pupil at the Government Legal Department and is not available for instruction by members of the public.