Gareth Williams inquest: ‘Narrative verdict’ explained

Coroner Fiona Wilcox, pictured, said that open and narrative verdicts were the only options available to her, and an open verdict “would not do justice to the positive findings I can make”.

Instead, she delivered a narrative verdict, which is a factual statement of the circumstances surrounding someone’s death.

Legal experts pointed out to The Scotsman that she came as close as possible to giving a verdict of unlawful killing. She told the court: “I am satisfied on the balance of probabilities that Gareth was killed unlawfully.”

To return a verdict of unlawful killing she would have to be satisfied to the criminal standard of proof, which is that it is “beyond reasonable doubt”. She apparently was not that satisfied, so gave a narrative verdict, applying the civil standard of proof, which is the “balance of probabilities”.