Jury to hear Kennedy inquest

An inquest into the death of Rules head chef Rory Kennedy has been adjourned because the coroner decided a jury should hear the case, as it involved an accident at work.

Kennedy, 37, died in early May from head injuries received when he fell down the stairs to the restaurant's kitchen. The accident happened when Kennedy returned to the Covent Garden restaurant unexpectedly after an afternoon off.

Coroner Selena Lynch apologised to Kennedy's family, attending the inquest at Southwark Coroner's Court, for not being able to proceed with the case. But she added: "I want the family to have a full and proper inquest and we do need a jury."

Lynch asked Nathan Millard, the solicitor acting for Rules, to clarify whether Kennedy was on duty when the accident occurred, in order to decide whether it was a notifiable death requiring a jury hearing.

Millard consulted the restaurant's owner, John Mayhew, who was at the back of the court. Millard confirmed that Mayhew's view was that, as Kennedy was head chef, he did not have rostered duties and could come and go as he pleased.

The provisional date set for the inquest is 13 August.