AN area coroner and assistant coroners for Cheshire have been sworn in at a ceremony at Warrington.
The ceremony took place at the new Cheshire coroner’s court, St James Business Centre, Wilderspool Causeway.
There is a full time senior coroner in Cheshire and an area coroner, who is the senior coroner’s deputy. There are also a number of part time assistant coroners.
All are legally qualified judges and have the same authority when dealing with deaths and hearing inquests.
Sworn in as the area coroner for Cheshire was Victoria Davies, previously an assistant coroner in Blackpool. She qualified as a solicitor in 2014 after studying Law and French at the University of Manchester and practiced in health law, with a primary focus on inquests.
Six new assistant coroners for Cheshire were also sworn in during the ceremony. These included Sarah Murphy, who has worked as an assistant Coroner for 11 years. She qualified cs a solicitor in 2002 and practiced criminal law for 21 years in a variety of legal roles before specialising in coronial law.
Sworn in to continue in the role of assistant coroner, Heath Westerman has been part of Cheshire coroner’s court since 2019.
Elizabeth Wheeler started her career specialising in healthcare regulation before diversifying her practice to include crime and extradition. She has a specialist healthcare advisory and regulatory practice, which includes inquests, court of protection work and mental health law.
A barrister with more than 20 years’ experience, Charlotte Keighley practises criminal, family and inquest work and will also be joining Cheshire coroner’s court as an assistant coroner.
Also sworn in is Alexander Frodsham, who was elected junior of the Northern Circuit in 1999, before specialising in personal injury and inquests. Alexander was appointed by the Attorney-General to represent the government in civil matters, as Junior Counsel to the Crown in 2015 before being re-appointed for a further five years in 2021.
Coroner Kate Ainge, will be taking up the assistant coroner role after previously working in the same position in Liverpool and Wirral. She also works as a deputy district judge and will serve Liverpool, Wirral and now Cheshire Coroner’s Court.
Senior Coroner for Cheshire Jacqueline Devonish, who formally took up her role in August last year, said: “Coroners have an important role to play in the judiciary and in the community. I am confident our new additions will bolster our resilience and improve the efficiency of the service.”
For more information about the Cheshire Coroner’s Court, visit: warrington.gov.uk/cheshire-coroners-service
