0 an official who examines the reasons for a person's death, especially if it was violent or unexpected -- （尤指调查暴死死因的）验尸官
This was a cumbersome process and made more difficult as the drugs were listed exactly as recorded on the coroner's certificate.
Witnesses were sworn and heard, but lawyers representing private interests might only address the court with the coroner's permission.
The coroner's room has direct access to the court, and is also used by the jury if it needs to confer privately.
Back in the courtroom, the coroner addressed the jury about the purpose of the proceedings.
Officials were also criticised for their apparent heartlessness as noted by, for example, coroners' juries.
Elected in the county court, the coroner was an unsalaried layman, though after 1487 he received a fee for each inquest.
From 1860, most coroners received salaries rather than fees.
From 1836, the coroner could order post-mortems and summon medical witnesses.
