The Solicitor General Robert Buckland QC MP has today given consent for the family of Carole Patricia Myers to apply to the High Court for a fresh inquest into the circumstances surrounding her death.
Carole Myers, 41, was found dead by the Metropolitan Police on 29th June 2005. The first inquest took place on 4 July 2005 and the Coroner recorded an open verdict. A second inquest took place on 30 September 2015 and an open verdict was given again.
The Solicitor General said:
Having considered the application, I have given consent to the family of Carole Myers to apply to the High Court for a new inquest into her death. I am satisfied that it is in the interests of justice for the application for a new inquest to be heard by the High Court.
The Solicitor General has the authority to decide whether an application can be made to the High Court for a new inquest to be opened. He has no power to order a new coronial inquest himself. A new inquest can only be ordered by the High Court on an application made either by the Attorney or by a third party with the consent of the Attorney.
Before an application can be made, the Attorney or Solicitor have to be satisfied that there is a reasonable prospect that the Court would be persuaded to open a new inquest. These decisions are made as part of his public interest function, independently of Government and strictly on the basis of the evidence. The Solicitor concluded, in this case, that there was sufficient grounds of challenge set out in the applications to have a reasonable prospect of success.
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