They can and do.Disagree. The coroner only has to examine the facts he/she is presented with. IMO cannot call witnesses.
If a witness lives in England and Wales and has evidence that the Coroner regards as relevant and important to help in establishing the facts of the death, he/she can be required to attend Court. A witness will usually be asked to attend the inquest voluntarily, but if they do not agree and their evidence is crucial, the Coroner may issue a witness summons to compel their attendance. If the witness then does not attend he/she may be arrested, brought before the Coroner and charged with contempt of Court. This is an offence that is punishable with a fine or a term of imprisonment. If a witness lives abroad they can be invited, but cannot be compelled to attend or to give evidence.
F.A.Q - Coroners Courts Support Service
F.A.Q More information, including details of the ‘Guide to Coroners’, can be found elsewhere on this website or from the Coroner’s Officers. Please see the links on this website; clicking on the links should take you to other sources of information. A further source of general information is the...
coronerscourtssupportservice.org.uk