Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2021)

30.   Coroner's inquest

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   (1)   Where a coroner who has jurisdiction to hold an inquest in respect of a death is satisfied that the deceased person at the time of his or her death had a relevant association with service personnel of a Member State other than Saint Lucia, then, unless the Attorney General otherwise directs, the coroner may not hold the inquest, or, if it has been begun but not completed, shall adjourn it.

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   (2)   Subject to subsection (1), a coroner referred to in that subsection shall, unless the Attorney General otherwise directs, adjourn the inquest if he or she is satisfied—

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      (a)     that a person who is subject to the jurisdiction of the service courts of a Member State other than Saint Lucia—

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         (i)     has been charged before a service court with the homicide of the deceased person referred to in subsection (1), whether or not that charge has been dealt with, or

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         (ii)     is likely to be returned to a Member State for trial and sentencing in connection with the homicide;

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      (b)     that a police member of that other Member State is likely to be returned to that other Member State for trial for the homicide; or

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      (c)     that a person referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) is being detained by an authority of another Member State with a view to being so charged.

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   (3)   Where an inquest is adjourned under this section the coroner may resume the inquest only on the direction of the Attorney General.

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   (4)   Where an inquest that was adjourned under this section is resumed, the coroner shall proceed in all respects as if the inquest had not been previously begun.

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   (5)   In this section—

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      (a)     “homicide” includes murder, manslaughter, infanticide and any offence under the law of the country in question that is analogous to any of those offences;

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      (b)     references to a person having a relevant association with service personnel of a Member State are references to his or her being at the time—

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         (i)     a member of the armed forces or the police force of a Member State or a member of the civilian component of such a force, or

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         (ii)     a person who, not being a citizen of Saint Lucia or a permanent resident thereof within the meaning of the Immigration Act, is a member of the armed forces or police force or a civilian component of that force.

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   (6)   In determining for the purposes of this section whether a person is, or was at any time, a permanent resident of Saint Lucia, no account shall be taken of any period during which he or she has been, or intends to be present in Saint Lucia—

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      (a)     as a member of the armed forces or police force of a Member State or of a civilian component of such a force;

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      (b)     as a dependant of a member of such armed forces or police force or a civilian component of such a force.