27Warrant for exhumation of body or recovery of ashes

27 Warrant for exhumation of body or recovery of ashes (1) A coroner may issue a warrant for— (a) the exhumation for post-mortem examination of a body that has been buried; or (b) if the body of the deceased has been cremated—the recovery of the ashes; if the coroner is satisfied that— (c) there is reasonable cause to believe that the person died in circumstances in relation to which the coroner has jurisdiction to hold an inquest; and (d) a post-mortem examination of the body or an analysis of the ashes of the deceased should be made. (2) If— (a) the body of a deceased person has been buried or cremated and the inquest concerning the death of that person has not been completed; or (b) the Supreme Court has quashed an inquest and has directed that a fresh inquest be held; a coroner may, if of the opinion that— (c) a post-mortem examination or a more complete post-mortem examination should be made of the body; or (d) an analysis or more complete analysis should be made of the ashes of the deceased; issue a warrant for the exhumation of the body or, if practicable, for the recovery of the ashes for the post-mortem examination or analysis or the more complete post-mortem examination or analysis.

(3) Where— (a) the body of a person who died outside the ACT has been buried in the ACT or the ashes of a person who so died are in the ACT; and (b) a coroner having jurisdiction in the place where the person died informs a coroner that— (i) an inquest is to be, or is being, held into the cause of the death of the person; and (ii) it is desirable that a post-mortem examination or a more complete post-mortem examination should be made of the body or an analysis or more complete analysis be made of the ashes; the coroner may issue a warrant for the exhumation of the body or for the recovery of the ashes of the deceased for a post-mortem examination or a more complete post-mortem examination or an analysis or more complete analysis of the ashes.