Lockdown rule may have led police to misidentify boy in fatal crash

A coroner's court was told police used photographs rather than forensic evidence to identify youngsters after a fatal crash, and that officers may have been following a pandemic-era policy. The next procedural step is undetermined at this time.

Officials at a coroner's court reported that police used photographs rather than forensic evidence to identify youngsters after a fatal crash. The court heard claims that officers were following a policy introduced during the Covid pandemic. The matter was presented as a possible misidentification of a boy connected to the crash. The report did not set out further procedural dates or outcomes. Reported details: - Police used photographs, not forensic evidence, to identify the youngsters, officials told the coroner's court. - The issue was raised during a coroner's court hearing about the fatal crash. - Those speaking at the hearing said officers may have been following a policy introduced during the Covid pandemic. - The article notes that rules were amended during the Covid pandemic, as reported. Summary: Officials reported the use of photographs for identification and linked that practice to pandemic-era rule changes. The matter is part of the coroner's inquiry into the fatal crash. Undetermined at this time.