A new Assistant Coroner has begun sitting on the Isle of Wight, in what could represent an important step towards reducing the lengthy delays that have plagued the Coroner’s Service in recent years.
This afternoon’s inquest openings in Newport were, surprisingly, conducted not by Senior Coroner Caroline Sumeray, but by Assistant Coroner Daren Samat.
Mr Samat, who does not live on the Isle of Wight, took up the part-time judicial role on 1st January 2026, but his appointment has gone under the radar – until now. He continues to practise in criminal and regulatory law.
It is thought that today’s short session at the Isle of Wight Coroner’s Court was Daren Samat’s first sitting as Assistant Coroner. It was noticeably quicker than usual.
His arrival comes after sustained criticism of the Isle of Wight Coroner’s Service over lengthy delays, staffing problems and a growing backlog of cases.
Last year, senior local figures described the service as ‘not fit for purpose‘, while more recent Ministry of Justice statistics revealed the Island has the longest average inquest waiting times in England and Wales.
The appointment of an Assistant Coroner has long been viewed as one of the measures that could help increase capacity and reduce waiting times for bereaved families.
