Parkin v HM Coroner for North Lincolnshire & Grimsby District

Facts

On 22nd February 2000, Mrs Parkin's son Bradley was found dead in the school, in the props room near the stage area, hanging by a piece of rope. The cause of death found by the inquest was death by hanging. Mrs Parkin appealed under section 13 of the Coroners Act 1988, relating to the inquest.

Issues

The crucial question at the inquest was that posed in section 11 of the Coroners Act and again in Rule 36 of the Coroners Rules 1984, namely: "How ... the deceased came by his death."

Decision

The Attorney General granted his consent to the appeal on 7th September 2004. The court held that it was sufficient that it was possible that there would be a different verdict. Accordingly, the appeal was allowed and a new inquest was directed.

Reasoning

The reason for the open verdict was that the coroner came to the conclusion that, having regard to the evidence about the sort of person Bradley was, it was not established that he had in fact committed suicide. Mrs Parkin described some domestic friction with Bradley. Finally, she gave evidence that Bradley had in fact been offered a full time job at the school as a managing technician for performing arts commencing in September 2000, on the basis that he would also have day release to study at Lincolnshire University. She said that on 21st February he had been told that that job had been taken away from him following an argument with some members of staff, as a result of which he had been barred from the lower school and from the drama club to which he was deeply attached. Another member of staff, Wendy Pankhurst, said that on 21st February Bradley told her that he had had a fall-out with his mother and that he was not allowed to go to the lower school any more. Apparently Mrs Parkin accused Mr Walsh of covering up evidence about the offer and its subsequent withdrawal, but he did not accept that. There is also evidence of possible difficulties in relationships between Bradley and the staff, including Mr Walsh and Mrs Tibbett. James Clery, a forensic scientist, has reported on the basis of an assumed, or hypothetical, reconstruction of the scene and has expressed opinions based on the length of the rope by which Bradley was found hanging.

Disposition

The appeal was allowed and a new inquest was directed.