Most inquests are held without a jury but there are particular circumstances when a jury must be called:
– If a death occurred in custody or state detention and the death was violent or unnatural or the cause is unknown
– If the death resulted from an act or omission of a Police Officer
– If the death was caused by a notifiable accident, poisoning or disease

In every jury inquest the coroner decides matters of law and procedure and the jury decides the facts of the case and reaches a determination and findings. The jury cannot blame someone for the death. If there is any blame, this can only be established by the legal proceedings, in civil or criminal courts however, in some cases the jury can record facts which make it clear that the death was caused by a specific failure of some sort or by neglect.