§ Matthew TaylorTo ask the Solicitor-General if she will place in the Library a copy of the request from Her Majesty's Coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon for a fresh inquest into the death of Ronald Maddison. [53394]
§ The Solicitor-GeneralFollowing requests for and availability of further information, HM Coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon recently completed an application to the Attorney-General for authority to apply for a fresh inquest into the death of Ronald Maddison. That application was granted on 16 April 2002. The next stage is for the coroner to apply to the High Court for a fresh inquest. If the High Court grants the application, the coroner will hold the fresh inquest with a jury. If that is the case, the jury should reach a verdict on the evidence received at the inquest, free from prejudice. I am not satisfied that publication of the request made by the coroner would not prejudice a jury if there were to be a fresh inquest and therefore I do not consider it to be appropriate to place a copy of the coroner's request in the Library. The coroner shares my view. The facts will be fully canvassed at the inquest if the application is granted.