A Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) is a unique aspect of the Scottish legal system, which is requested by a Procurator Fiscal when a fatal accident has occurred. Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ... The procurator fiscal is the local public prosecutor in Scotland. ...

Generally the Procurator Fiscal will receive notification of a persons death and will investigate any which appear suspicious. Where the death was caused by a deliberate action the Procurator Fiscal will begin proceedings for prosecution in the Sheriff Court or an Advocate Depute prosecute in the High Court of Justiciary. However, if the death was caused by an accident the Procurator Fiscal will convene an FAI to determine the facts and attempt to identify any persons who may liable under the law of culpable homicide (the term for manslaughter in Scotland). Death is the cessation of physical life in a living organism, or the state of the organism after that event. ... Criminal law (also known as penal law) is the body of law that regulates governmental sanctions (such as imprisonment and/or fines) as retaliation for crimes against the social order. ... The Sheriff Courts are the local Court system in Scotland. ... The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service provides an independent public prosecution service in Scotland. ... Seal of the High Court of Justiciary © Crown Copyright The High Court of Justiciary is Scotlands supreme criminal court. ... A railing accidentally collapses at a college football game, spilling fans onto the sidelines An accident is something going wrong unexpectedly. ... This article is about homicide, the killing of a human being. ... Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ...

A Fatal Accident Inquiry will take place before a Sheriff (judge) in a Sheriff court but the role of the Sheriff is to ensure that points of Scots law are adhered to. The actual investigation is carried out by the Procurator Fiscal who will call witnesses and receive written evidence. Persons can choose representation by counsel (Advocate) or solicitor but this is generally not required as the Enquiry is not a Court of law, and indeed is conducted under civil law procedure. Sheriff is both a political and a legal office held under English common law, Scots law or U.S. common law, or the person who holds such office. ... Sheriff is both a political and a legal office held under English common law, Scots law or U.S. common law, or the person who holds such office. ... Scots law (or Scottish law) is the law of Scotland. ... A counsel or a counselor gives advice, more particularly in legal matters. ... It has been suggested that Barrister#Advocates in Scotland be merged into this article or section. ... A solicitor is a type of lawyer in many common law jurisdictions, such as the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Republic of Ireland, Canada and some States of Australia but not the United States. ... In the common law, civil law refers to the area of law governing relations between private individuals. ...

See also

• Courts of Scotland
• Crown Office
• Lord Advocate

The United Kingdom does not have a single unified judicial system - England and Wales have one system, Scotland another, and Northern Ireland a third. ... The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service provides an independent public prosecution service in Scotland. ... Her Majestys Advocate, known as the Lord Advocate (Morair Tagraidh in Scots Gaelic), was the chief legal adviser of the United Kingdom Government and the Crown in Scotland for both civil and criminal matters until the passing of the Scotland Act 1998. ...

External links

• The Procurator Fiscal Service official website