How a Coroner investigates a death

Initial stage:
The initial stage of a coroner’s investigation is undertaken with the assistance of Queensland Police and includes:

• receiving an initial report from the police about the death from family members, friends and witnesses;
• contacting the senior next of kin to inform them about the coronial process and to obtain more information about the deceased, as well as the family’s wishes with respect to the deceased’s post-mortem examination (for more information, see Fact Sheet 5: Next of kin and the Coroners Court); and
• reviewing information from the preliminary medical examination of the deceased.