28 Mar 2024
The coroner directed that, pursuant to s27, the inquest's role is to determine identity and how/when/where and cause of death and may make preventive recommendations but not determine liability, and that a single joint inquest for the 39 deaths is appropriate with a target to convene within 2024 subject to police report and procedural steps.
28 Mar 2024
The coroner directed that the 39 deaths be investigated in a single combined inquest given their contemporaneous circumstances; the police must provide a full death investigation report by early June 2024; a second pre-inquest review will be held within two months of receipt of that report and in any event no later than September 2024; disclosure of witness lists and written statements to interested persons shall be made at least 21 days before the second review; the inquest's purpose is limited to determining identity, how, when, where and cause of death and may include preventive recommenda…
28 Mar 2024
The coroner exercised statutory case management powers to order a combined inquest for the 39 deaths, directed the police to deliver a full investigation report and witness statements by early June 2024, and set a timetable requiring a second pre-inquest review within two months of receipt of the report (and no later than September 2024), with disclosure of witness lists and statements at least 21 days before that review; the coroner reaffirmed that the inquest's remit is limited by s27 and cannot determine civil or criminal responsibility but may make preventive recommendations.
28 Mar 2024
The coroner will conduct a consolidated inquest into the 39 deaths to determine the identity and the how, when and where of each death and the cause, may make recommendations to prevent recurrence, will not adjudicate civil or criminal liability, and will proceed according to the timetable set pending receipt of the full police report.
28 Mar 2024
The coroner ordered a single combined inquest into the 39 deaths, limited to determining identity and the how, when, where and cause of death; directed police to provide a full investigation report and disclosure within set timeframes and set a timetable aiming to hear the inquest within 2024, while noting that the inquest will not determine civil or criminal liability.
28 Mar 2024
The coroner exercised statutory case management powers under the Coroners Ordinance, concluded the 39 deaths should be consolidated into a single inquest due to identical timing and circumstances, ordered the police to deliver a full death investigation report by early June 2024, and directed that a second pre-inquest review be convened within two months of receipt of that report (and in any event by September 2024) with disclosure of proposed witness lists, statements and expert reports at least 21 days beforehand.
1 Feb 1984
Citibank, as the applicant, bore the burden of proving one or more statutory grounds in Order 49B rule 1B(i); it failed to prove wilful failure to make full disclosure or disposal of assets to avoid satisfaction and the evidence was insufficient and speculative given ICAC custody of records, so the court dismissed the application and refused to order imprisonment.