The coroner's lawyer will want to hear about your first-hand knowledge so that the questioning will bring out all the evidence. The coroner is in charge of the proceedings during an inquest. The coroner generally uses a lawyer to lead the questioning of witnesses and to provide advice on legal matters. The coroner sits at the front of the room, the five jurors to one side facing the public. A court reporter records the proceedings during the inquest.
Witnesses give testimony from a witness stand facing the public.
This allows them to ask questions of witnesses. Lawyers granted standing and the lawyer for the coroner sit at a table in front of the public facing the coroner. An inquest is a public hearing and any member of the public may attend. Depending on the nature of the inquest, and at the coroner's discretion, witnesses may be excluded from the inquest proceedings until they are required to give evidence. An inquest follows legal procedures and includes proclamation that the court is open and swearing in of the jurors.