Gresham College Lectures Death Investigation: What Do Coroners Do? - Peter Thornton
Watch the Q&A session here: https://youtu.be/9ozYDQFkfaY
When death occurs, the state has a duty to investigate. Every death must be registered locally with a cause of death. And now, more than any other country, all deaths are double-checked, with coroners having a significant role in over 30% of them, explaining the unexplained and reporting to prevent future deaths.
This lecture explains:
- Who are coroners and what they do
- When an inquest must take place
- How coroners arrive at a just conclusion and
- The benefit to the health and welfare of the nation in death investigation
This lecture was recorded by Sir Peter Thornton KC on the 5th of Feburary 2026 at Barnard’s Inn Hall, London.
His Honour Sir Peter Thornton KC was a practising barrister in criminal and human rights law, a QC (now KC), founder member and head of Doughty Street Chambers in London, a Senior Circuit Judge at the Old Bailey (the Central Criminal Court) and judge in the High Court and Court of Appeal (Criminal Division).
Sir Peter was the first Chief Coroner of England and Wales.
He is now a Visiting Professor at King’s College London (where he teaches a course, Death investigation: coroners and inquests), a member of the Independent Expert Panel of the House of Commons, and an international trainer of coroners and judges with the Civil Service College, the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association and the Slynn Foundation.
His latest book is The Later Years: The simple guide to organising the rest of your life (Bedford Square Publishers, 2025). He also conducts workshops on Life and lifestyle in the later years.
The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College website: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/death-coroners
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