inquest
Coroner's formal hearing
An inquest is an official inquiry, especially one conducted by a coroner to determine the cause of a death: The inquest ruled it accidental.
More broadly, any systematic investigation into what went wrong: The team held an inquest after their devastating loss.
The word carries a formal, somewhat legalistic tone.
Public death investigator
- autopsyMedical examination after death
- morgueCorpse holding facility
- pathologistDisease diagnosis specialist
- deceasedNo longer living
cadaver · mortuary · forensic · cause of death · post-mortem · medical examiner · body · fatality
Legal decision-making body
- verdictOfficial court decision
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
- witnessOne who attests
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
subpoena · summons · affidavit · cross-examination · deposition · adjournment · findings · determination
Conclusions from investigation
- conclusionEnd or deduction
- determinationFirmness of purpose
- rulingFormal legal determination
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
unlawful killing · misadventure · accidental death · natural causes · suicide · undetermined · recommendations · jury decision
Methodical assessment or review
- fact-findingSeeking verified information
- scrutinyClose, careful examination
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- interrogationFormal, probing examination
forensics · evidence gathering · witness statements · timeline · circumstances · review · analysis · probe
coroner
Public death investigator
- autopsyMedical examination after death
- morgueCorpse holding facility
- pathologistDisease diagnosis specialist
deceased · cadaver · mortuary · forensic · cause of death · post-mortem · medical examiner · body · fatality · suspicious death
jury
Legal decision-making body
evidence · subpoena · summons · affidavit · cross-examination · deposition · adjournment · findings · determination · proceedings
findings
Conclusions from investigation
- conclusionEnd or deduction
- determinationFirmness of purpose
- rulingFormal legal determination
judgment · unlawful killing · misadventure · accidental death · natural causes · suicide · undetermined · recommendations · jury decision · pronouncement
examination
Methodical assessment or review
- fact-findingSeeking verified information
- scrutinyClose, careful examination
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
interrogation · forensics · evidence gathering · witness statements · timeline · circumstances · review · analysis · probe · inspect
- British CrimeJack the Ripper, Scotland Yard, Old Bailey, Met Police, Burke and Hare
- medieval documentscharter, royal charter, town charter, indenture, patent
- investigationinvestigation, detective, evidence, clue, case
- investigation termsinvestigation, evidence, witness, testimony, clue
- investigationsinvestigation report, audit, investigation, review, FBI investigation
- investigatoryprobe, audit, inspection, search, review
inquesttrial
Judicial examination of claims
criminal trial · verdict · prosecution · lawsuit · litigation
inquestconclusion
End or deduction
verdict · final verdict · findings · resolution · determination
inquestcover-up
Hiding wrongdoing from public
whitewash · suppression · concealment · obfuscation · dismissal
- coroner's inquestJudicial investigation into unexplained deaths