OFFICIALS have insisted that inquests in West Yorkshire will run as normal, despite the suspension of the region’s coroner.
Prof Paul Marks has been asked to ensure the smooth running of the service in Kirklees, Calderdale and Bradford.
He stepped up when the coroner, Dr Peter Straker, was suspended earlier this month pending an inquiry into his conduct.
A spokesman for the Coroner’s Service said: “Professor Marks was asked by the chief coroner Judge Peter Thornton to take over the day-to-day running of the jurisdiction while complaints to the Office of Judicial Complaints (OJC) relating to Dr Straker are fully investigated, a process which may take some time”.
The investigation is considering an allegation that Dr Straker used a taxi driver to transport confidential documents between courts in a carrier bag.
The OJC is also examining claims Dr Straker acted inappropriately in court and exercised poor judgement. He is alleged to have instructed his deputies not to return verdicts of suicide or misadventure even if the facts supported such verdicts.
