Likewise. There was a somewhat similar incident elsewhere in that region a couple of years ago where a couple of local journalists were charged which were later tossed. Obviously, we don't know all of the information. If the scene had been taped off and the reporter crossed inside, that's one thing but; otherwise, it seems extremely questionable to restrict the recording of public space.
In a sense, I can see some of the member's concerns. Revealing the identity of persons and vehicles involved before NOK notifications and other activities are completed can be a concern; although moreso with TV coverage, but they can be easily solved with a chat with professional media (not so much with so-called 'citizen journalists, who generally neither know nor care about the rules).
It has always be tacitly assumed that, during a death investigation, we were working on behalf of the coroner, but it's always been a little confusing when there are criminal or provincial matters being simultaneously being investigated. Typically, when criminal matters are involved, it was not unusual to assign one member to 'assist' the coroner and kept separate from the criminal side. Any authority being exercised on behalf of the coroner better ensure that it is in furtherance of the Coroners Act and not something else; it's not a blanket authority. Additionally, we don't know if the authority of the coroner was formally delegated as required by the Act. It's usually not a big deal if you are just 'doing stuff', but if you're going to start actively exercising authorities, you'd better have your grounds in order. I'm not sure if the coroner's authority under Sec. 16 has ever been Charter tested. It seems pretty broad in today's terms.
Given court rulings on evidence admissibility, and the advancements in forensics, leaving a body 'in situ' is increasingly common in a criminal investigation. Even without criminality, they might be waiting for a coroner to attend the scene. If death has been confirmed in an acceptable way, the police need the coroner's authority - somehow - to move the body. If a criminal investigation is underway, the Coroners Act takes a back seat.
In the beforetimes, it was not uncommon for local coroners to not attend scenes, heck, some didn't even attend the hospital. In the above discussion, this made the police assumption of the coroner's authority a little more tenuous. Those days of coroners not attending scenes is all but gone.
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