Meaning of “the criminal proceedings”

(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 Supreme Court is heard. 15 (2) Where a 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, or with infanticide, he shall, unless directed in writing to the contrary by the Chief Justice, abstain from holding an inquest. (3) If on an inquest touching a death the coroner is informed before the jury has given its verdict that some person is charged before a magistrate with the murder or manslaughter of the deceased, or with infanticide, 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 Chief Justice. (4) Where by direction of the Chief Justice 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 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 the provisions of this Act shall apply as if the resumed inquest was a fresh inquest. (6) If the inquest is not resumed, the coroner shall furnish to the Registrar General 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 General shall enter the death and particulars in the form and manner prescribed by the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, Cap. 157 and any regulations made thereunder. (7) The magistrate before whom a person is charged with murder, manslaughter or infanticide shall inform the coroner 16 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, of the person charged, and where a person charged with murder, manslaughter or infanticide is committed for trial, it shall be the duty of the Registrar to inform the coroner of the result of the proceedings.