Structure and Jurisdiction
At common law, coroners would constitute a court by virtue of their office. In South Australia, this common law position has been abolished and there is now the Coroners Court of South Australia established. Coroners have the power to investigate the causes of death within their jurisdiction. They also have power to retain a person’s remains, order autopsies, and direct how a person’s remains may be disposed of.
South Australian coroners have jurisdiction to hold inquests concerning the cause of any fire in the state if the State Coroner or the South Australian Attorney General is of the view that an inquest should be held.
Where a serious criminal offence has been disclosed during the course of an inquest, the coroner cannot proceed with it if a person is to be charged with that criminal offence.
There may be a right of appeal from the findings of a coroner to the Supreme Court of South Australia.
Read more about this topic: Coroner's Court Of South Australia
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