L.R.O. 1/2012
LAWS OF GUYANA
CORONERS ACT
CHAPTER 4:03
Act
6 of 1887
Amended by
11 of 1894 26 of 1903 28 of 1927
4
6
of
of
1972
1997


Current Authorised Pages
Pages
(inclusive)
Authorised
by L.R.O.
1 – 30 ... 1/2012





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Note
on
Subsidiary Legislation
This Chapter contains no subsidiary legislation.





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CHAPTER 4:03
CORONERS ACT
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
SECTION
1. Short title.
2. Interpretation.
CORONERS
3. Justice to be coroner.
PROCEDURE IN CASE OF UNNATURAL DEATH
4. Report of unnatural death.
5. Duty of police.
6. Duty of coroner.
7. Order for post mortem examination.
8. Emergency cases.
9. Post mortem examination.
10. Report of examination.
11. No examination by any person charged with neglect.
ORDER FOR BURIAL OF BODY
12. Order on preliminary investigation.
13. Order when inquest or inquiry to be held.
INQUESTS AND INQUIRIES
14. Inquest or inquiry.
15. Inquest on body of prisoner.
16. Inquiry into unnatural death of immigrant on plantation.
17. Where coroner unable to act.
18. Inquiry where body cannot be found.

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SECTION
19. Requisition by Director of Public Prosecutions that inquest or inquiry
be held.
20. Direction by Director of Public Prosecutions for further investigation.
21. (1) Meaning of “the criminal proceedings”.
(2) When coroner shall not hold an inquest.
(3) Proceedings before coroner where Director of Public
Prosecutions directs inquest to be held or resumed.
(5) Particulars to be furnished for registration of death where inquest
not resumed.
(6) Certain officers to inform the coroner of proceedings.
PROCEDURE WITH RESPECT TO INQUESTS AND INQUIRIES
22. Summoning jurors.
23. Juror’s oath.
24. View of body.
25. Nature of investigation.
26. Summoning and examining witnesses.
27. Witness not attending.
28. Committal of recalcitrant witness.
29. Right of accused person to be present.
30. Right of accused person to examine medical practitioner who makes
report.
31. Requisition by majority of jurors for further post mortem examination.
32. The like by coroner.
33. Statement of accused person.
34. Verdict or finding of jury.
35. Adjournments.
36. Transmission of proceedings to Director of Public Prosecutions.
EXHUMATION OF BODY
37. Exhumation of dead body.
OFFENCES
38. Neglect of duty by coroner.
39. Not reporting unnatural death.
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SECTION
40. Refusal or neglect of juror to perform duty.
41. Non-compliance by medical practitioner with summons.
42. (1) Burial of body without authority.
(2) Onus of proof.
43. Obstruction of person acting under the Act.
FEES
44. Fee for post mortem examination.
45. Fees.
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
46. Admissibility of deposition on trial.
47. Admissibility of medical report in certain cases.
48. Intimation of orders or summons.
49. Practice in matters not provided for.
50. Postage or correspondence.
51. Record of proceedings.
52. Investigation into death of immigrant.
53. (1) Forms.
(2) Second Schedule.
FIRST SCHEDULE—Table of Fees.
SECOND SCHEDULE—Forms.
1929 Ed.
c. 8
1953 Ed.
c.13 _______________________________________________________
6 of 1887 An Act to consolidate and amend the Laws relating to
Coroners.
[11th MAY, 1887]
CHAPTER 4:03
CORONERS ACT

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Short title.

Interpretation.

Justice to be
coroner.
1. This Act may be cited as the Coroners Act.
2. In this Act—
“unnatural death” includes every case of death of a person—
(a) which occurs in a sudden, violent, or
unnatural manner; or
(b) where a dead body is found; or
( c) as to which any reasonable suspicion
exists –
(i) that it has not arisen from
natural causes; or
(ii) that any person is criminally
responsible for it;
“inquest” means an investigation as to the cause of a death
held by a coroner with a jury as hereinafter provided;
“inquiry” means investigation held by a coroner without a
jury;
“coroner” means the magistrate of the magisterial district in
which an unnatural death occurs, or, if that magistrate
cannot conveniently or speedily be found, or is unable to
act the nearest justice of the peace who is able to act.
CORONERS
3. Every justice of the peace shall be ex officio a
coroner.


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Report of
unnatural
death.
Duty of police.

Duty of
coroner.

Order for post
mortem
examination.

Emergency
cases.

Post mortem
examination.
PROCEDURE IN CASE OF UNNATURAL DEATH
4. Everyone who becomes aware of an unnatural
death shall notify it to the coroner or at the nearest police
station.
5. Where an unnatural death is reported to, or comes
to the knowledge of, any member of the Police Force, he shall
forthwith cause a report thereof to be made to the coroner.
6. Where an unnatural death is reported to or comes
to the knowledge of the coroner, he shall, subject to the other
provisions of this Act, forthwith cause due investigation to be
made as to the cause of that death and, if necessary, hold an
inquest, or, if the circumstances so require, shall hold an
inquiry.
7. Whenever it is expedient that the dead body of a
person should be examined by a duly qualified medical
practitioner, the coroner shall forthwith issue his order to a
duly qualified medical practitioner to make a post mortem
examination of that body.
8. When from any cause the instructions of the
coroner cannot be promptly obtained, and it is expedient that
a person’s dead body should be examined by a duly qualified
medical practitioner without delay, the Commissioner of
Police or any superintendent of police, or, if the instructions
of any of those officers cannot be promptly obtained, the
member of the Police Force in charge of the police station
nearest to the place where the dead body is lying, may require
a duly qualified medical practitioner to make a post mortem
examination of the body.
9. (1) The medical practitioner who is so ordered or
required to make the post mortem examination shall
thereupon, unless he is unavoidably prevented, proceed to
the place where the body is lying, and make such examination
of it as may enable him to ascertain the cause of death.
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Report of
examination.


No examina-
tion by any
person charged
with neglect.
Order on
preliminary
investigation.
(2) The medical practitioner, if it is necessary in
order to ascertain the cause of death, shall extend the
examination to the dissection of the body and an analysis of
any portion thereof, and may cause any portion thereof to be
transmitted to any qualified government medical officer or to
any government analytical chemist.
(3) Where a medical practitioner, so ordered or
required to make a post mortem examination, is unavoidably
prevented from so doing, he shall forthwith give notice of the
fact to the coroner or at the nearest police station.
10. (1) The medical practitioner who makes the
examination shall, after doing so, draw up a report of the
appearances of the body and of the conclusions which he
draws therefrom and certify as to the cause of death so far as
he can ascertain it; and shall date and sign the report.
(2) The report may be delivered to a member of
the Police Force or to a rural constable for transmission to the
coroner.
(3) The report so made shall be admissible as
evidence at any inquest or inquiry, and shall be prima facie
evidence of the facts therein stated.
11. Where any credible information is given to the
coroner, or to any member of the Police Force authorised to
require a post mortem examination to be made of the body of
any person, that the death of that person was caused partly or
entirely by the improper or negligent treatment of any
medical practitioner or other person, that medical practitioner
or other person shall not be allowed to perform or assist at the
post mortem examination of the body.
ORDER FOR BURIAL OF BODY
12. (1) Where the death of any person is reported to,
or first comes to the knowledge of, the coroner as an
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Second
Schedule
Form 7

Order when
inquest or
inquiry to be
held.
Second
Schedule
Form 8
unnatural death, he may make a preliminary investigation,
and if he considers after doing so that it is unnecessary to
hold an inquest or an inquiry, he may issue an order for the
burial of the body.
(2) The order may be issued either before or after
any examination of the body by a qualified medical
practitioner.
(3) Whenever the coroner issues an order for the
burial of the body without holding an inquest or inquiry, he
shall report the facts to the Director of Public Prosecutions
and the grounds for the order and transmit all reports and
documents in his possession connected with the matter.
13. (1) When an inquest or inquiry is to be held, and
the coroner considers that it is unnecessary to order a post
mortem examination of the body, he may authorise the burial
of the body without that examination.
(2) Where an inquest or inquiry is to be held and
the coroner considers it expedient to order a post mortem
examination of the body, he may authorise the burial of the
body after that examination has been duly made by a
qualified medical practitioner.
(3) Where from any cause the instructions of the
coroner cannot be promptly obtained, the Commissioner of
Police or any superintendent of police, or, if the instructions
of any of those officers cannot be promptly obtained, then the
member of the police force in charge of the police station
nearest to the place where the dead body is lying, may
authorise the burial of the body after a post mortem
examination thereof has been duly made under this Act by a
duly qualified medical practitioner.
(4) The authorisation shall be immediately
reported to the coroner.

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Inquest or
inquiry.

Inquest on
body of
prisoner.

Inquiry into
unnatural
death of
immigrant on
(5) Except in case of necessity the order for burial
under this section shall not be made until the coroner’s jury in
the case of an inquest, or the coroner in the case of an inquiry,
has had an opportunity of determining whether it is
expedient to view the body:
Provided that where the condition of the body
requires that it should be immediately buried, an order or
authorisation for burial under this section may be given
before the commencement of any inquest or inquiry.
INQUESTS AND INQUIRIES
14. Where an unnatural death is reported to, or comes
to the knowledge of, the coroner, he shall, subject to section
12, hold an inquest, except when he is authorised or required
under this or any other Act to hold an inquiry, and then he
shall hold an inquiry.
15. (l) An inquest shall be held in every case of the
death of any person confined in any prison, or in any lock-up,
or place of confinement for persons accused or convicted of
having committed any offence except in cases where it is not
practicable to obtain the services of a sufficient number of
jurors.
(2) No person connected with the prison service
or with the Police Force shall be summoned to serve as a juror
on the inquest.
(3) Where the services of a sufficient number of
jurors cannot be obtained, the magistrate of the district in
which the prison, lock-up, or place of confinement is situate
shall forthwith hold an inquiry as to the cause of the death.
16. (1) Where the death of any immigrant is an
unnatural death within the meaning of this Act, and occurs on
any plantation, the magistrate of the district in which the
plantation is situated shall forthwith hold an inquiry.
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plantation.

Where coroner
unable to act.
Inquiry where
body cannot be
found.

Requisition by
Director of
Public
Prosecutions
that inquest or
inquiry be
held.

Direction by
Director of
Public
Prosecutions
for further
investigation.
(2) In this section, the terms “immigrant” and
“plantation” have respectively the same meaning as in any
Act or Acts for the time being in force in relation to
immigrants.
17. Where under this Act, the magistrate of the
district is directed to hold an inquiry but is unable to hold it,
it shall be held by some other magistrate.
18. In cases where persons come to their deaths, or
are reasonably supposed to be dead, but their bodies cannot
be found, a coroner may, and whenever required by the
Director of Public Prosecutions shall, hold an inquiry into the
circumstances connected with the death or supposed death.
19. (1) The Director of Public Prosecutions may
require a coroner to hold an inquest or inquiry into the cause
of, and the circumstances connected with, the death of any
person, and may do so although an inquest or inquiry with
respect to the same death has been already commenced or
held or returned; and every coroner so required shall have
full power to hold, and shall hold that inquest or inquiry.
(2) Where the Director of Public Prosecutions
requires any coroner to hold an inquest or inquiry and an
inquest or inquiry relating to the same death is being held, or
has been held, by any other coroner, all proceedings at or
founded on the last-mentioned inquest or inquiry shall be
stayed.
(3) The Director of Public Prosecutions may also
direct whether the body shall or shall not be exhumed, and
the coroner shall comply with the direction.
20. Where the coroner has closed the proceedings at
an inquest or inquiry, and it appears to the Director of Public
Prosecutions that further investigation is necessary, he may
require the coroner to re- open that inquest or inquiry and
make further investigation, and thereupon the coroner shall
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Meaning of
“the criminal
proceedings”.


When coroner
shall not hold
an inquest.
Proceedings
before coroner
where Director
of Public
Prosecutions
directs inquest
to be held or
have full power to re-open it and make further investigation,
and thereafter proceed in the same manner as if he had not
closed those proceedings:
Provided that this section shall not apply to any inquest
or inquiry at which any verdict or finding of murder or
manslaughter has been returned against any person therein
named.
21. (1) In this section “the criminal proceedings”
means the proceedings before a magistrate holding a
preliminary inquiry and before any court to which the
accused person is committed for trial, or before which a
question of law reserved for consideration at the trial by a
judge of the High Court is heard.
(2) Where the coroner whose duty it is to hold an
inquest touching a death is informed prior to the
commencement of the inquest that some person has been
charged before a magistrate with the murder or manslaughter
of the deceased, he shall, unless directed in writing to the
contrary by the Director of Public Prosecution, abstain from
holding an inquest.
(3) If on an inquest touching a death the coroner
is informed before the jury have given their verdict that some
person is charged before a magistrate with the murder or
manslaughter of the deceased, he shall adjourn the inquest
until after the conclusion of the criminal proceedings and
discharge the jury, but he shall not resume the inquest unless
he is so directed in writing by the Director of Public
Prosecutions.
(4) Where by direction of the Director of Public
Prosecutions a coroner holds or resumes an inquest if on the
criminal proceedings any person has been charged on
indictment, then upon the inquest no inquisition shall charge
that person with an offence of which he could have been
convicted on an indictment or contain any finding which is
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resumed.

Particulars to
be furnished
for registration
of death where
inquest not
resumed.
Certain officers
to inform the
coroner of
proceedings.
Summoning
jurors.
Second
Schedule
Form 1
inconsistent with the determination of any matter by the
result of those proceedings.
(5) Where a coroner resumes an inquest under
this section he shall proceed in all respects as if the inquest
had not been previously begun, and this Act shall apply as if
the resumed inquest were a fresh inquest.
(6) If the inquest is not resumed, the coroner shall
furnish to the registrar of births and deaths a certificate
stating the result of the criminal proceedings and the
particulars necessary for the registration of the death so far as
they have been ascertained at the inquest, and the registrar
shall enter the death and particulars in the form and manner
prescribed by the Acts relating to the registration of births
and deaths and any regulations made thereunder.
(7) The magistrate before whom a person is charged
with murder or manslaughter shall inform the coroner
responsible for holding an inquest upon the body of the
making of the charge and of the committal for trial or
discharge, as the case may be, if the person charged with
murder or manslaughter is committed for trial, it shall be the
duty of the Registrar of the Supreme Court to inform the
coroner of the result of the proceedings.
PROCEDURE WITH RESPECT TO INQUESTS AND
INQUIRIES
22. (1) Where an inquest is to be held, the coroner
shall with all convenient speed summon not less than three or
more than five good and lawful men residing in the
neighbourhood, of full age to appear before him as jurors at
the time and place he directs.
(2) The summons may be served either
personally or by leaving it with some person at his abode, or
may be communicated by a member of the Police Force in any
manner authorised by this Act.
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Jurors oath.

View of body.
Nature of
investigation.

Summoning
and examining
witnesses.
Second
Schedule
(3) Where it is practicable to do so, the place so
appointed shall be the place where it then is, unless the body
has been buried.
23. So soon as the coroner and jurors at an inquest
have assembled, the coroner shall administer to each of the
jurors the following oath:
“You shall diligently inquire and true presentment
make, on behalf of the State, when, where, how, and after
what manner [here name the deceased, if known, or, if
unknown, state a person unknown] now dead, came to his
death, and of such other matters relating to that death as
shall be lawfully inquired of by you. So help you God.”
24. The coroner or any jury may view the body, but it
shall not be necessary at any inquest or inquiry for the
coroner or the jury to do so:
Provided that where at any inquest it appears to the
coroner or to the greater number of the jury attending at the
inquest to be expedient to view the body, the jury shall
thereupon proceed to do so, and if the body has been buried,
the coroner shall order its exhumation for the purpose, unless
he certifies that, in his opinion, exhumation would be useless
for the purposes of the inquest or dangerous to the public
health.
25. The jurors at every inquest, and the coroner at
every inquiry, shall inquire when, where, how, and after what
manner, the deceased person came by his death, and also
whether any person is criminally concerned in the cause of
the death.
26. The coroner shall summon the witnesses he
deems necessary and examine them upon oath touching the
matter of the inquest or inquiry; and the evidence of a witness
shall be taken down in writing by the coroner and distinctly
read over to and subscribed by the witness in the presence of
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Form 2

Witness not
attending.
Second
Schedule
Form 3
Committal of
recalcitrant
witness.
Second
Schedule.
Form 4.
the coroner and jurors in the case of an inquest, and in the
presence of the coroner in the case of an inquiry.
27. Where any person summoned as a witness at any
inquest or inquiry refuses or neglects to appear at the time
and place appointed by the summons and otherwise to
comply therewith, and no just excuse is offered for his refusal
or neglect, then, after proof upon oath that the summons has
been served upon him, either personally or by leaving it for
him with some person at his place of abode, or has been
communicated to him in any manner authorised by this Act,
the coroner may issue a warrant to bring and have him at a
time and place therein mentioned, before the coroner to
testify as aforesaid.
28. Where on the appearance of the person so
summoned, either in obedience to the summons or on being
brought by virtue of a warrant or where any person present
is called on by the coroner to give evidence, then if that
person—
(a) refuses to be examined upon oath
concerning the premises; or
(b) refuses to be sworn, or, having been
sworn, refuses to answer the questions
concerning the premises then put to him;
or
(c) refuses to produce any document
which he is summoned to produce;
or
(d) refuses to subscribe his deposition,
the coroner may, by warrant, commit the person so refusing
to any prison for any time not exceeding seven days, unless
he in the meantime consents to be examined and to answer
concerning the premises, or to produce the documents (if
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Right of
accused person
to be present.

Rights of
accused person
to examine
medical
practitioner
who makes
report.
Requisition by
majority of
jurors for
further post
mortem
examination.

The like by
coroner.
any), or to subscribe his deposition, as the case may be.
29. Everyone charged with having caused the death
of the deceased, or with having been accessory thereto, shall
be at liberty to attend and cross-examine each witness
produced against him, as well as to produce witnesses in his
defence; and every witness produced for the defence shall be
sworn, and his examination shall be taken down by the
coroner in manner and form hereinbefore mentioned.
30. Where, at any inquest or inquiry, the report of any
medical practitioner who has made a post mortem
examination of the body of a person is received in evidence,
and anyone charged with having caused the death of that
person, or with having been accessory thereto, desires to
examine the medical practitioner, he may require the coroner
to summon the practitioner, and the coroner, when so
required, shall thereupon summon the practitioner as a
witness for the State.
31. Where it appears to the greater number of the
jurors sitting at any coroner’s inquest that the cause of death
has not been satisfactorily explained by the evidence of the
medical practitioner or other witness or witnesses examined
in the first instance, that number of the jurors are hereby
empowered to name to the coroner, in writing, any other
legally qualified medical practitioner or practitioners, and to
require the coroner to issue his order for the attendance of the
last-mentioned medical practitioner or practitioners as a
witness or witnesses, and for the performance of a post
mortem examination, with or without an analysis of the
contents of the stomach or intestines, and whether or not that
examination has already been performed or not; and if the
coroner, having been thereunto required, refuses to issue the
order, he shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.
32. Where, at any inquest or inquiry, it appears to the
coroner that the cause of death has not been satisfactorily
explained, he may require any qualified medical practitioner
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Statement of
accused person.
[26 of 1949]
Verdict or
finding of jury.


to make a post mortem examination, with or without an
analysis of any portion of the body, and whether or not that
examination has already been performed.
33. (1) After the evidence on behalf of the State is
closed, the coroner, if any accused person is present, shall say
to him these words, or words to the like effect:
“Do you wish to say anything? You are not obliged
to say anything unless you desire to do so; but
whatever you say will be taken down in writing and
may be given in evidence upon your trial.”
(2) Whatever the accused person then says shall
be taken down in writing and read over to him by the coroner
and kept with the depositions of the witnesses, and
transmitted with them as hereinafter mentioned; and
afterwards, upon the trial of the accused person, the
statement may if necessary be given in evidence against him
without further proof thereof, unless it is proved that the
coroner purporting to sign it did not in fact sign it:
Provided that nothing herein contained shall prevent the
Director of Public Prosecutions in any case from giving in
evidence an admission or confession or other statement of the
person accused or charged made at any time which by law
would be admissible as evidence against that person.
34. (1) After the whole of the evidence is closed and
the statement of the accused person (if any) has been taken
down, the coroner at an inquest shall sum up the evidence
and then proceed to take the verdict of the jury, the finding of
the majority being for that purpose sufficient, and the verdict
shall thereupon be reduced into writing and authenticated by
the signature or mark of the jurors finding it and
countersigned by the coroner.
(2) The coroner at an inquiry shall record in writing
his finding on the evidence, and that finding shall have the
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Adjournments.

Transmission of
proceedings to
Director of
Public
Prosecutions.
Exhumation of
dead body.

Neglect of duty
by coroner.
[6 of 1997]
Not reporting
unnatural
death.
[6 of 1997]
Refusal or
neglect of juror
to perform duty.
[6 of 1997]
same effect as if it were the verdict of a jury.
35. Any inquest or inquiry may be adjourned by the
coroner, if he sees fit, from place to place and from time to
time until the whole of the evidence touching and concerning
the death and the cause thereof has been obtained.
36. All inquisitions and records and minutes of
proceedings at any inquiry shall be transmitted to the
Director of Public Prosecutions within seven days at the latest
after the inquest or inquiry is closed.
EXHUMATION OF BODY
37. Where the body of any person is buried without
any examination or without sufficient examination, a coroner
about to hold or holding an inquest or inquiry as to the death
of that person may order the body to be exhumed.
OFFENCES
38. Every coroner who refuses or neglects without
reasonable excuse to hold any inquest or inquiry which it is
his duty to hold, or to perform any duty which he is required
to perform under this Act, shall be liable to a fine of forty-
eight thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars, recoverable
before the High Court in its criminal jurisdiction on the
motion of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
39. Everyone becoming aware of any unnatural death
who neglects to notify it to the coroner or at the nearest police
station shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine of nine
thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars.
40. Everyone who—
(a) being summoned as a juror at any inquest,
refuses or neglects to attend; or

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Non-compli-
ance by medical
practitioner
with summons
[6 of 1997]

Burial of body
without
authority.
[6 of 1997]
Onus of proof.
(b) being in attendance on an inquest, refuses to
be sworn or to serve as a juror; or
( c) being called to complete the number of
jurors, refuses to be sworn or to serve as a
juror,
shall, unless he proves to the satisfaction of the magistrate
that he had good and sufficient cause for his refusal or
neglect, be liable on summary conviction to a fine of four
thousand eight hundred and seventy-five dollars.
41. Where any medical practitioner is ordered or
required to make any post mortem examination of a body,
and the order or requirement has been personally served on
or left at the residence of the practitioner, or has been
communicated to him in any manner authorised by this Act
in sufficient time to enable him to comply therewith and he
fails to comply therewith, he shall be liable on summary
conviction to a fine of nine thousand seven hundred and fifty
dollars, unless he proves to the satisfaction of the magistrate
that he had good and sufficient cause for the non-compliance
and that he forthwith gave notice to the coroner, or at the
nearest police station, that he was so unable to comply with
the order or requirement.
42. (1) Everyone who without lawful excuse inters or
causes to be interred the dead body of any person in respect
to whose death an inquest or inquiry ought to be held before
he has received the order of the coroner, or before he is
authorised to do so by any member of the Police Force
empowered under this Act to give that authority, shall be
liable on summary conviction to a fine of nineteen thousand
five hundred dollars.
(2) Where anyone is charged with having
committed an offence under this section, the onus of proving
that he had lawful excuse, or that he received the order of the
coroner, or that he was so empowered as aforesaid, shall be
LAWS OF GUYANA
20 Cap. 4:03 Coroners
L.R.O. 1/2012

Obstruction of
person acting
under the Act.
[6 of 1997]

Fee for post
mortem
examination.
Fees.
[4 of 1972]
First Schedule
Admissibility
of deposition
on trial.
on him.
43. Everyone who obstructs or molests any officer or
person acting under this Act shall be liable on summary
conviction to a fine of nine thousand seven hundred and fifty
dollars or to imprisonment for three months.
FEES
44. Where any qualified medical practitioner has
made an examination of the dead body of any person in
obedience to any order or requirement under this Act, he
shall, subject to the other provisions of this Act, be entitled to
receive the prescribed fee, and the coroner, when the service
has been performed, shall certify for payment the account of
the medical practitioner:
Provided that where any inquest or inquiry is held
with respect to the death of any person who has died in
any hospital, prison, almshouse, or other institution, the
medical officer whose duty it has been to attend the deceased
person as a medical officer of that institution shall not be
entitled to the fee or remuneration herein provided.
45. (1) There shall be paid out of moneys provided by
Parliament in respect of coroners’ inquests and other matters
and things connected therewith the fees specified in the First
Schedule.
(2) The Minister may by order amend the First
Schedule.
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
46. If, on the trial of anyone against whom a verdict
or finding of murder or manslaughter has been returned at
any inquest or inquiry, it is proved by the oath of any credible
witness that any person whose deposition has been taken at
the inquest or inquiry is dead, or absent from Guyana, or so
LAWS OF GUYANA
Coroners Cap. 4:03 21
L.R.O. 1/2012
Admissibility
of medical
report in
certain cases.

Intimation of
order or
summons.
Practice in
matters not
provided for.

Postage of
correspond-
dence.

Record of
proceedings.
ill as not to be able to travel, then, if the deposition purports
to be signed by the coroner before whom it purports to have
been taken, the deposition may be read as evidence without
any further proof thereof, unless it is proved that it was not in
fact signed by the coroner purporting to sign it.
47. Where, on the trial of anyone on an indictment for
murder or manslaughter, it is proved that the medical
practitioner who made a post mortem examination of the
body is dead or absent from Guyana, any report of that
practitioner made under this Act may be received as evidence
with respect to the appearances of the body when examined
by him and as regards the cause of death:
Provided that the evidence shall be subject to any
deduction from its weight the court or jury deems proper by
reason of the report not having been made upon oath and the
accused not having had any opportunity of cross-
examination.
48. Any order, authorisation, or summons under this
Act may be communicated verbally or by telegraph,
telephone, or any electrical apparatus.
49. In all questions of form and practice which may
arise on any coroner’s inquest not herein provided for, the
coroner shall follow, as nearly as possible, the forms and
practice in force immediately before 26th May, 1966.
50. All correspondence, papers and documents
transmitted by or to the Director of Public Prosecutions, or by
or to a coroner, relating to any matter to be dealt with under
this Act may be transmitted through the post free of charge.
51. (1) The Director of Public Prosecutions may
deposit in the registry of the Supreme Court all inquisitions
and records of proceedings at an inquiry.
(2) The Registrar shall cause a register to be kept
LAWS OF GUYANA
22 Cap. 4:03 Coroners
L.R.O. 1/2012
Investigation
into death of
immigrant.

Forms.
Second
Schedule.
s. 45 [Leg. Co.
Res. No. XII
6/12/1929]
[6 of 1997]
of all the documents so deposited and an alphabetical index
of them to be made.
52. Where any inquest or inquiry is held as to the
death of any Asiatic immigrant, the coroner shall transmit to
the Immigration Agent General the name and description of
the immigrant and the date and cause of his death.
53. (1) The Director of Public Prosecutions may direct
what forms shall be used in any proceedings under this Act,
and those forms, when sanctioned by the Minister and
published in the Gazette, may be used for and in respect of the
several matters therein mentioned.
(2) Until otherwise ordered, the several forms in
the Second Schedule may be used for and in respect of the
several matters therein mentioned.
_________
FIRST SCHEDULE
TABLE OF FEES
1. To every coroner (not being in the receipt
of any public pay or emolument) holding
and completing any inquest or enquiry and
thereafter duly transmitting the record of the
proceedings in terms of the Act
2. To every qualified medical practitioner
who is in receipt of any salary or
remuneration from the public revenues, for
making an examination of the dead body of
the deceased person, where it is not
necessary to make any dissection of the
body, making the report required by the Act,
and certifying the cause of death
325.00
130.00

LAWS OF GUYANA
Coroners Cap. 4:03 23
L.R.O. 1/2012
3. To every such practitioner, where it is
necessary in any such case to attend to give
evidence, an additional sum of
4. To every qualified medical practitioner
who is in receipt of any salary or
remuneration from the public revenues, for
making a complete post mortem examination
of the dead body of the deceased person,
including the dissection of the body, either
with or without an analysis of the contents
of the stomach and intestines or preparing
them for transmission to the Government
Analyst, making the report required by the
Act, and certifying the cause of death
5. To every such practitioner, where it is
necessary in any such case to attend to give
evidence, an additional sum of
6. To every qualified medical practitioner
who is not in receipt of any salary or
remuneration from the public revenues, for
making an examination of the dead body of
a deceased person, where it is not necessary
to make any dissection of the body, making
the report required by the Act, and
certifying the cause of death
7. To every such practitioner, where it is
necessary in any such case to attend to give
evidence, an additional sum of
8. To every qualified medical practitioner
who is not in the receipt of any salary or
remuneration from the public revenues, for
making a complete post mortem
examination of the dead body of the
195.00

390.00
260.00
195.00
260.00


LAWS OF GUYANA
24 Cap. 4:03 Coroners
L.R.O. 1/2012

s. 53

s. 22
deceased person, including the dissection of
the body, either with or without an analysis
of the contents of the stomach and intestines
or preparing them for transmission to the
Government Analyst, making the report
required by the Act, and certifying the cause
of death
9. To every such practitioner, where it is
necessary in any such case to attend to give
evidence, an additional sum of
N.B.—No mileage or travelling
expenses to be allowed, but in special cases
it shall be lawful for the Minister responsible
for finance to order the payment of such
extra remuneration for travelling expenses,
or otherwise, as he may deem just and
reasonable.

520.00

455.00
SECOND SCHEDULE
FORMS
1
WRITTEN SUMMONS FOR A JUROR
Guyana
County of