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open verdict

British  

noun

  1. a finding by a coroner's jury of death without stating the cause

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

An inquest in 1977 found Martha, 70, was unlawfully killed, and an open verdict was returned in the case of Griff Thomas who was 73.

From BBC

Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray recorded an open verdict at an inquest into the deaths at Chelmsford Coroner's Court in 2014, adding: "Not all of the pieces of the jigsaw are there yet."

From BBC

On 17 February 1977, a jury inquest in Haverfordwest returned verdicts of unlawful killing for Patti Thomas, and an open verdict on Griff.

From BBC

Instructing the jury last month, the coroner told them there were five verdicts open - accidental death, death by misadventure, unlawful killing, an open verdict or a narrative verdict.

From BBC

An open verdict means that the evidence does not fully or clearly explain the cause and circumstances of death.

From BBC