Inquest Opens Into 2018 Helicopter Crash That Killed Leicester City Owner

An inquest into the 2018 helicopter crash that killed the owner of Leicester City Football Club opened on Monday. Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four others were killed when the Thai billionaire's personal helicopter crashed shortly after taking off from the Premier League club's King Power Stadium following a match in October 2018. Catherine Mason, the coroner presiding over the hearing, told the jury that under English law the role of an inquest is simply to determine the facts over how someone died rather than make rulings on individual guilt or innocence.

"An inquest hears evidence so the jury can make findings of fact and come to a conclusion about the deaths," said Mason, sitting at Leicester City Hall. "Nobody is on trial here.

"An inquest does not decide matters of criminal or civil liability," added Mason, who also said the hearing was expected to last for between two and three weeks.