The inquest into the death of a Sussex man killed in the Hatfield train crash will not reopen for at least five months, a coroner said today.
Hertford Coroner Alan Lawson said he needed to wait in case the police pressed murder or manslaughter charges as a result of the derailment.
Pilot Steve Arthur, 46, of Pease Pottage, died when the GNER train came off the rails.
Inquests have also been adjoured on the other three people killed - Mr Arthur's employee Robert Alcorn, 37, of Bayswater, west London, Leslie Gray, 43, of Tuxford, Nottinghamshire and Peter Monkhouse, 50, from Headingley, Leeds - have also been adjourned.
Mr Lawson said the British Transport Police investigation into the tragedy on October 17 is due to last at least another four or five months.
He adjourned the hearing at Hertford Coroner's Court until April 10, 2001.
Mr Lawson added: "If any person is charged with murder or manslaughter of the deceased then I am required ... to adjourn the inquests until after the conclusion of criminal proceedings."
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