By Ben Kerrigan-
A public inquiry will be held into the death of novichok victim Dawn Sturgess, who was poisoned in Amesbury in 2018, the home secretary has today announced.
The 44-year-old passed away at Salisbury District Hospital on 8 July 2018, after being exposed to the nerve agent via a discarded counterfeit perfume bottle.
It was found by her partner Charlie Rowley, who became seriously ill but survived. Police believe it had been used by Russian intelligence operatives to smuggle the nerve agent into the country.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said she hoped to establish the inquiry, which will likely be held in both Salisbury Guildhall and at venues in London, “as soon as is reasonably possible in 2022”.
Packaging for the counterfeit bottle of perfume that was recovered from Charlie Rowley’s home
Baroness Heather Hallett, who will chair the inquiry, said: “I am anxious to ensure that the inquiry can commence its substantive work and deliver answers to the questions the bereaved family and partner of Dawn Sturgess have about her death as soon as possible.”
The inquiry will examine any possible Russian involvement, amid allegations Ms Sturgess died as an indirect result of Kremlin-sponsored poisoning.
Former High Court judge, Baroness Heather Hallett, who will chair the inquiry, said: “I am anxious to ensure that the inquiry can commence its substantive work and deliver answers to the questions the bereaved family and partner of Dawn Sturgess have about her death as soon as possible.”
In her letter to Baroness Heather Hallett, Ms Patel said: “I hope this inquiry will bring comfort to (Ms Sturgess‘s family and others affected) through a greater understanding of the circumstances of Ms Sturgess‘ death and recognise the bravery and resilience of those who responded.The inquiry would be likely to be held in both Salisbury Guildhall and at venues in London.
Ms Sturgess died in hospital on July 8 after she and her partner, Charlie Rowley, became seriously ill in Amesbury, Wiltshire, when they came into contact with Novichok on a discarded perfume bottle.
Her killing followed the attempted murder of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, his daughter Yulia, and ex-police officer Nick Bailey, who were poisoned in nearby Salisbury in March that year when members of a Russian military intelligence squad are believed to have smeared the deadly nerve agent on Mr Skripal’s door handle in Salisbury.
The home secretary was previously accused of delaying the process at a hearing in September, after refusing to indicate if she would be willing to convert an existing inquest into a public inquiry.
Lady Hallett called on Priti Patel to urgently establish a public inquiry into the death of Dawn Sturgess.
She said inquest proceedings were not able to properly consider “highly relevant” material relating to national security.“I cannot conduct a full, fair and effective investigation into the death of Ms Sturgess if these proceedings continue as an inquest,” she told the court.