The family, who are concerned he was targeted by ungentlemanly bowling and comments before the incident, appeared furious at the inquest on Friday at a submission by Cricket Australia's lawyer, Bruce Hodgkinson.
Mr Hodgkinson suggested that NSW bowler Doug Bollinger saying, “I am going to kill you” before Hughes was hit should not detract from the evidence provided by umpires and players who said they could not recall the alleged sledge.
The inquest heard on Wednesday a statement from Phillip’s friend Matthew Day who alleged that NSW bowler Doug Bollinger said he had sledged the South Australian team on the day of the tragedy, saying “I am going to kill you” and vowed he would never make such a comment on the field again.
But Bollinger denied making the sledge in his evidence to the hearing on Monday.
Hughes died after being struck in the neck by a cricket ball in a Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground on November 25.
The Hughes family lawyer Greg Melick SC submitted that the fact some players had denied that sledging took place casts doubt over the evidence they had provided.
Mr Hodgkinson told the court Hughes' death was "a tragic accident that was not capable of being anticipated".
Reading a statement from the Hughes family, Mr Melick told the court they still believe "deliberate, short-pitched bowling and sledging occurred".
Counsel assisting Kristina Stern SC recommended that it was not appropriate to consider events leading up to the fatal accident, including sledging, in his findings.
The court heard emergency procedures at the Sydney Cricket Ground should also be streamlined and that more research should be done into players’ safety and the neck guard protection.
The Coroner will hand down his findings on Friday November 4.
With AAP
