An inquest is a judicial inquiry in common law jurisdictions, primarily used to determine the cause of sudden or unexplained deaths, conducted by a coroner, judge, or jury, and often involving an autopsy. Historically, the procedure dates back to the 10th century, with roots in Scandinavia and the Carolingian Empire, and was famously used to gather data for the Domesday Book in England after the Norman Conquest. In England and Wales, coroner's juries were once the norm, but since 1927 they have become rare; under the Coroners Act 1988, a jury is only mandated for deaths in prison, police custody, or cases affecting public health or safety. Notably, a coroner's jury charged Lord Lucan in 1975 for the death of Sandra Rivett, retaining indictment powers until the Criminal Law Act 1977. Verdicts from such proceedings can include natural death, accident, suicide, or murder, and while witnesses testify, suspects cannot defend themselves at this stage—though criminal prosecution may follow if the verdict indicates foul play. Today, systems vary by region, with Australia operating separate Coroners Courts in each state and territory, and the charity Inquest monitoring contentious cases in the UK.