South Australian Repealed Acts

This legislation has been repealed.

CORONERS ACT 1975 - SECT 13

13—Power of inquiry of coroners in relation to inquests

        (1)         Subject to this section, a coroner may, where the coroner believes on reasonable grounds that it is necessary for the purposes of an inquest or the determination of whether or not an inquest is necessary or desirable—

            (a)         enter at any time and by force, if necessary, into or upon any place or thing, where the coroner believes there is the body of a dead person, and view the body, or issue his or her warrant authorising some other person to exercise such powers; or

            (b)         issue his or her warrant for the removal of the body of a dead person to such place as the coroner directs; or

            (c)         enter at any time and by force, if necessary, into or upon any place or thing, and inspect and remove anything in or upon that place or thing, or issue his or her warrant authorising some other person to exercise such powers; or

            (d)         with the consent of the Attorney-General, issue his or her warrant for the exhumation of the body of a dead person; or

            (e)         direct a medical practitioner to perform a post-mortem examination of the body of a dead person; or

            (f)         direct a medical practitioner, or some other person whom the coroner considers sufficiently qualified, to perform an examination or a test.

        (2)         A coroner exercising a power conferred by subsection (1), or a person executing a warrant issued pursuant to that subsection, may be accompanied by such assistants as the coroner, or that person, thinks fit.

        (3)         A person must not—

            (a)         hinder or obstruct a coroner exercising a power conferred by subsection (1) or a person executing a warrant issued pursuant to that subsection, or any assistant accompanying a coroner or person pursuant to subsection (2); or

            (b)         fail to comply with a direction given pursuant to this section.

Penalty: Division 6 fine.

        (4)         Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1), a coroner may not exercise the powers conferred by that subsection in relation to—

            (a)         the disappearance from, or within, the State of any person; or

            (b)         a fire or accident that causes injury to person or property,

unless the Attorney-General directs the coroner to do so.