This session is led by lawyer - linguist Sue Leschen who has 22 years experience under her belt of interpreting in this field. This is not an easy subject area to interpret as invariably it involves emotional issues related to dying and especially where death is not due to natural causes.
In this session we will cover:
The Coroner's Court
- Role of the coroner (and jury if there is one) : investigates causes and circumstances of death
- Inquest procedure in coroner's court
- Expert evidence: doctors, ambulance staff
- Lay evidence: family, friends of the deceased
- Coroner's conclusions as to cause of death: natural death, accident, suicide, open verdict
- Coroner's recommendations as to prevention of future deaths
- There may also be parallel criminal proceedings
- Issues for the Interpreter: emotional overload on the day and afterwards due to impact of upsetting evidence; need for briefing and debriefing in this area essential (but rare); alternatively interpreting for distressed lay witnesses (relatives) and then for cool, calm professionals (police officers)
Key takeaways
- A better understanding of the law and procedure in this area
- Clarification of the role of the interpreter in inquests: what it is and what it isn't
