The inquest into the deaths of victims of the February earthquake in Christchurch has concluded, but some families are choosing to keep their cases open for further investigation.
The week-long inquest has heard evidence on 144 people who died in the CTV and PGC buildings, as well as in other parts of the city, during the 6.3-magnitude quake on 22 February.
About half a dozen families have asked Coroner George Matenga if the investigation into their loved-ones can stay open as they have concerns about the circumstances of the deaths.
The inquest this week has been limited in what it can cover as the upcoming Royal Commission will deal with how and why the buildings collapsed.
Mr Matenga has given families the option of adjourning their hearing until after the Royal Commission in case their particular questions are not answered.
These include why certain buildings were allowed to be occupied and whether the rescue effort had any impact on how people died.
Men's last moments in church recalled
On Friday the inquest was told of the final moments of three men killed in a church that collapsed during the February earthquake.
The court was told six men were working inside the Methodist Church on Durham Street dismantling and removing the pipe organ when the quake hit but only three got out in time.
One of the others, Scott Lucy, was last seen running down the stairs of the church in an attempt to escape.
His colleague, Neil Stocker, was last seen standing on the scaffolding inside the church, while Paul Dunlop was about four metres away from the altar.
Lessons learned, say police
Police say they have learnt lessons from mistakes made while identifying victims of the Pike River mine disaster and the Canterbury earthquakes.
At the inquest, a sister of one of those killed asked police why it took so long to identify her family member.
Detective Inspector Paul Kench said lessons have been learnt from the identification process after both tragedies and officers are being given extra training.
