Russian agents spied on Sergei and Yulia Skripal FIVE YEARS before Salisbury attack, coroner is told

Russian agents spied on Sergei and Yulia Skripal five years before the Salisbury novichok poisoning, a pre-inquest review has heard. The Royal Courts of Justice was told yesterday the then national security adviser Sir Mark Sedwill sent a letter to the Nato secretary-general in April 2018 mentioning a ‘cyber-interest’ in the Skripals from 2013. It said: ‘We … Read more

Coroner says it is impossible to say whether nurse caught Covid in hospital

A coroner has called for a public inquiry into the coronavirus pandemic at the conclusion of an inquest for a nurse who died of Covid-19 days after hospital staff saved her baby.  Coroner Emma Whitting last week heard three days of evidence on the circumstances surrounding how sister Mary Agyapong died at Luton and Dunstable … Read more

Toddler’s death after choking on sausage was accidental says coroner amid claims staff did not help

The death of a toddler who choked on a piece of sausage at a Butlin’s holiday park has been ruled accidental at an inquest today. James Manning had been on a trip to Bognor Regis, West Sussex, with his mother Natalie Reeves and grandmother Angela Knight when tragedy struck. The two-year-old, from Battle in East … Read more

Coroner issues latest smart motorways warning after teenager died in M1 crash

Coroner issues latest smart motorways warning after teenager who died in M1 crash became fifth fatality in two years Assistant coroner has called for urgent action after 19-year-old died in M1 crash  Zahid Ahmed hit by a lorry at 56mph in a broken-down car on smart motorway Detective said teenager would not have died if … Read more

Coroner says Oxford University must overhaul drugs policy after student, 23, died of overdose

A coroner has called for Oxford University to overhaul its drugs policy after a gifted physics student died from an overdose.  Daniel Mervis, 23, from Finchley in north London, died in October 2019, after a ‘battle with drug misuse that began whilst studying at Oxford’s St John’s College’. An inquest was told that the college … Read more

Coroner slams ‘shocking’ failings at maternity unit where baby died

A coroner has slammed the care given to a mother whose week-old baby died following a catalogue of hospital blunders as ‘nothing short of shocking’. Tiny Kaylan Coates suffered serious injuries including skull fractures during a forceps delivery and died from a hospital infection days later. Staff at Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre ignored pregnant Hayley … Read more

Senior coroner demands under-18s are BANNED from Leeds Festival

Anya Buckley died at the Leeds Festival in summer 2019 after taking a cocktail of ecstasy, ketamine and cocaine Unaccompanied under-18s should be banned from going to music festivals where they are exposed to harmful drugs, a coroner has suggested after a 17-year-old girl died. Senior Coroner Kevin McLoughlin urged Leeds Council to ‘take action’ … Read more

Police who were filmed arresting suspect who died hours later ask coroner for anonymity

Andre Moura, 30, died several hours after he was detained by officers on the night of July 6, 2018 The police officers who were filmed arresting a man who later died in custody have asked the coroner to impose an order granting them anonymity.  Andre Moura, 30, died several hours after he was detained by … Read more

Coroner finds that playing football likely contributed to Alan Garner’s deteriorating health

The words of Alan Garner’s widow, Sylvia, say it all: ‘Football has robbed me of my husband, my children of their father and my grandchildren of their grandad.’ On Tuesday, grieving members of the former Luton and Watford defender’s family attended Alan’s inquest. That it was held via videolink, because of Covid, was not the … Read more

Coroner records air pollution exposure as cause of death for first time

Air pollution was today recorded as a medical cause of death of a nine-year-old girl who suffered a fatal asthma attack in a first for the UK.  Ella Kissi-Debrah is believed to be the first person in the country to have air pollution listed as the cause of death on their death certificate, following the … Read more