Douglas and Carol Shipsey v HM Senior Coroner for Worcestershire

Douglas and Carol Shipsey v HM Senior Coroner for Worcestershire

The combined effect of the new evidence reasonably leads to the conclusion that the substantial truth about how Beth Shipsey died was not revealed at the original inquest, making it both desirable and necessary in the interests of justice to quash the suicide findings in the Record of Inquest. It is permissible for the High Court to quash specific parts of the Record of Inquest without ordering a fresh investigation, and no costs order is appropriate against the Coroner.

Parties
Claimant: Douglas and Carole Shipsey; Defendant: HM Senior Coroner for Worcestershire; First Interested Party: Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust; Second Interested Party: Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
30 July 2025
Procedural Posture
Section 13 Coroners Act 1988 Application (part 8 Claim) / Final Judgment After Hearing and Written Submissions
Outcome
Claim allowed; section 13 application granted on Ground 1; parts of the Record of Inquest quashed; no order for costs.
Legal Topics
Inquests, Section 13 Applications, Fresh Evidence, Suicide Conclusions, Amendment of Record of Inquest
Public Law Coronial Law Judicial Review Inquests Section 13 Applications Fresh Evidence Suicide Conclusions Amendment of Record of Inquest

Case Brief

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Full judgment text Downloadable case file Legal principles 3 Authorities cited 28 Party arguments 2
Sign in to unlock

Parties

Douglas and Carole Shipsey

Claimant

HM Senior Coroner for Worcestershire

Defendant

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

First Interested Party

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust

Second Interested Party

Procedural Posture

Section 13 Coroners Act 1988 Application (part 8 Claim) / Final Judgment After Hearing and Written Submissions

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether fresh evidence justifies quashing suicide findings in the Record of Inquest under section 13(1)(b) of the Coroners Act 1988
  2. 2 Whether the High Court can amend the Record of Inquest by quashing specific findings without ordering a fresh investigation
  3. 3 Whether costs should be awarded against the Coroner

Ratio Decidendi

The combined effect of the new evidence reasonably leads to the conclusion that the substantial truth about how Beth Shipsey died was not revealed at the original inquest, making it both desirable and necessary in the interests of justice to quash the suicide findings in the Record of Inquest. It is permissible for the High Court to quash specific parts of the Record of Inquest without ordering a fresh investigation, and no costs order is appropriate against the Coroner.

Court Disposition

Claim allowed; section 13 application granted on Ground 1; parts of the Record of Inquest quashed; no order for costs.

Orders

  • The parts of the Coroner’s determinations in the Record of Inquest to the effect that Beth Shipsey died 'as the result of suicide' and that she 'did so intending to take her own life' are quashed under section 13(2)(c).
  • No order for costs is made against the Coroner or the NHS Trusts.