A Coroner for Western Australia will today begin an inquest into the deaths of more than 100 asylum seekers on a boat which sank north of Christmas Island last year.
Coroner Alastair Hope will preside over the inquiry into the sinking of the boat known as SIEV 357, which was carrying 212 people when it sank about 204km north-west of Christmas Island on June 21 last year.
Seventeen bodies were recovered, 85 people were reported missing and presumed dead and 110 people were rescued.
The passengers were from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran.
The WA coroner does not have powers to investigate the missing people but does have jurisdiction for the 17 whose bodies were recovered and will hold an inquest into how they died.
A Coroners Court directions has previously been told two of the recovered bodies have not been identified and one of them may never be identified.
Tuesday 25 June 2013
http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/christmas-island-asylum-tragedy-inquest-starts-today/story-fnhocxo3-1226669385218
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