(a) Jury.--The coroner may summon a jury of six individuals and two alternates to be selected from the jury panels of the court of common pleas.
(b) Function.--The function of the jury shall be to determine the manner of death and if a criminal act or neglect of a known or unknown individual caused the death. The jury shall be paid as provided by law in the same manner as jury members serving the court of common pleas.