R (on the application of Pounder) v HM Coroner for the North and South Districts of Durham and Darlington

The deceased was aged 14 when he committed suicide on 8 August 2004 at a secure training centre in which he was being detained on remand in relation to criminal offences.  By reason of the fact that he had died in a penal institution, the Coroners Act 1988 required the Coroner to conduct the inquest into his death with a jury.

Under section 11(5) of the 1988 Act, the inquisition had to set out, as far as the particulars had been proved, who the deceased was and how, when and where the deceased had died.  Evidence was heard that on the day preceding the deceased's death, he had lost privileges and had had his television removed from his bedroom cell because he had been supplied with contraband cigarettes.  He had also learned that no bail application was to be made.  A further potentially contributory cause of the claimant's suicide was treatment complained of by him to his solicitor, and in a letter the deceased had left in his room, on the day of his death.