Record series
Body Cards
VPRS 10010
1959 - 2007
Closed, Open
North Melbourne
Agencies
This record series was created by:
Coroners Courts ( VA2263 ): 1959 - 1986
State Coroner's Office ( VA2807 ): 1986 - present
Agencies responsible for this record series: State Coroner's Office ( VA 2807 ): 1986 - present
Date Range
Series date range: 1959 - 2007
Series in custody:
1959 - 2003
Contents in custody:
1959 - 2003
Function / Content
The series contains all of the supporting documentation used by a coroner when investigating reported deaths. From 1959 to June 1986, this series covers only deaths reported to the Melbourne Coroner's Court. From 1986 it covers every reportable death in Victoria as specified under Sections 3 and 15 of the Coroners Act 1985.The term "body card" refers to the cardboard file housing the documentation. The name and address of the deceased as well as the body card number were recorded on the cover of the file.
The file may contain:
* the Victorian Police report of the death
* an autopsy report as conducted by the Coroner's Court / Office
* an affidavit and / or other statements of identification
* copy of the body admission sheet
* correspondence from next of kin, solicitors and others (if received)
* copies of drug analysis, carbon monoxide or blood alcohol reports (when appropriate)
* medical deposition from a treating doctor in a hospital and
* ambulance admission sheet
Files relating to investigations resulting in inquests contain the inquisition sheet and copies of statements considered by the coroner in making a finding. These documents are copies of papers found on the inquest deposition files. In many instances photographs of the deceased and the scene of the death are included. PLEASE NOTE: SOME OF THESE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE GRAPHIC AND MAY CAUSE DISTRESS.
After June 1986, all files contain a form titled "Record of Investigation into a Death or Fire" which summarises the coroner's finding.
A summary of all investigations post-1971 is in VPRS 7658 Register of Deaths Reported to the Melbourne Coroner.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BODY CARDS AND INQUESTS
Files relating to bodies received at other Coroner's Courts throughout the state before June 1986 are not in this series. Also note that a coronial inquest was not held on every person for whom there is a file in this series for this period.
Where an inquest was held, there will be copies of material from the inquest file and (in earlier records) an identifying mark on the copy of the police report included in the body card file.
However, under the PROV Records Authority PROS 99/05 the State Coroner was authorised to destroy Body Cards where an inquest was held into the death, 15 years after the completion of the case (see VPRS 24 Inquest Deposition Files for information on these cases). Where an investigation finds that a death is the result of natural causes, a Body Card may be destroyed after 25 years. Body cards from 1995 onwards have not included such temporary records. These records are available through the State Coroner's Office within the 15- and 25-year sentences listed above.
From June 1986, the State Coroner's Office was required to investigate every reportable death in Victoria as specified under Section 3 of the Coroners Act 1985. A reportable death means a death:
* that appears to have been unexpected, unnatural or violent
* that results from accident or injury
* that occurs during an anaesthetic or was a result of an anaesthetic
* of a person whose identity is unknown
* where a death notice has been signed
* that occurs outside Victoria and is not certified by a legally qualified medical practitioner
* of a person who immediately before death was under the control, care or custody of a Community Services or Office of Corrections Institution, a member of the police force, an assessment or treatment centre under the Alcoholics and Drug Dependent Persons Act 1968 or an institution under the Mental Health Act 1959 (excepting voluntary patients).
How to use the records
Body card numbers can be found in VPRS 5524 Index to Body Cards or VPRS 11901 Database for the Management and Control of Coronial Investigations. These indexes are arranged in strict alphabetical order within annual volumes.For cases to the end of 1985, note both the year and the file number to identify the body card. Consult the records details of VPRS 10010 Body Cards to identify the item(s) required.
The form of the body card number has varied over time, such that, for example, the 20th file from 1964 might be labelled:
1964/20
1964/0020
20/1964
20/64
20 (year not noted on cover of file)
The most common form of body card number is "year/number", without leading zeroes. For example, the first body card in 1973 is identified as 1973/1. When searching for a body card, it is advisable to try this form of the number first. In general, this is how body card numbers have been recorded on PROV Record Description Lists.
If a search for a particular body card is unsuccessful, try the following:
1) See below in "Relationship between Body Cards and Inquests" for instances where body cards are not kept permanently.
2) Check the date ranges in the consignment details to establish the consignment in which the body card should be.
3) Browse the unit details to see if the body card falls where expected in the sequence.
4) Order the unit in which you would have expected to find the body card.
Note that VPRS 10010 / P4 consignment consists of miscellaneous files which would fall within sequences in the P1 and P2 consignments.
