An ordinary meeting of the Society was held on 7th March 2007. The President was in the chair. The minutes were read and approved.
The President then introduced the speaker Mr Keith St John Wiseman, HM Coroner for Southampton. He spoke to the title “From fatalities to free kicks – the life and times of a football club director and HM Coroner.
Mr Wiseman started by thanking medical practitioners for their detailed and helpful reports.
He told us he was educated at King Edward VI School Southampton before going to Oxford. He served his articles at Trethowans then joining them as a solicitor.
11 years ago he became our coroner.
He said that unfortunately we will lose doctor coroners in the reforms of the coroner’s system which is due. Two cases have led to the review: the first was Alderhay and since then coroners are the only ones who can insist on a PM. The second was Shipman; for although the cases were never reported to the coroner he was still responsible. Major reforms were proposed such as having a chief coroner in London and a group of coroners on circuit. At present each coroner is responsible for a specific area but this would be lost. However the treasury wouldn’t sanction the changes.
Most families want to know what happened and accept the idea of a PM. Hampshire is quite generous and there is no pressure to reduce the numbers of PMs. They try to fit in with religious practices – especially in relation to the Indian Subcontinent because many of the dead are sent back to India for the funeral.
It is the duty of the coroner to investigate every unnatural death and all cases of death in custody. He/She must also present an annual return of deaths by category.
An inquest lasts from 1-5 days. A jury is present for any death in custody, a case with public interest factors or if the coroner thinks it right. It is an enquiry and not a trial and rules of evidence do not apply and hearsay evidence can be accepted. The coroner can strike inappropriate comments [e.g. defamatory statements] from the record. The verdict can be accompanied by formal recommendations which he will follow up.
He finished with a brief mention of his lifelong obsession with football. He has followed Southampton since the age of 7 and been on the board for many years. Southampton is a small club. Because of TV sponsorship the premiership can offer much larger salaries; if Southampton were promoted again they would earn an extra £50 million. Unfortunately it is much easier to stay in a league than to get up again.
The talk was followed by a lively question and answer session.
There being no other business the meeting was closed at 10.00pm