Dawn Sturgess Inquiry: Hearings into Novichok poisonings begin in Salisbury

The inquiry into the death of Dawn Sturgess from Novichok exposure officially begins in Salisbury today (Monday 14th October).

Hearings will look at the sequence of events that led to the 44 year old's poisoning.

Dawn passed away at Salisbury District Hospital in July 2018, eight days after she came into contact with the nerve agent Novichok.

It had been found by her partner Charlie Rowley - in a bin, within a discarded perfume bottle.

Dawn sprayed it directly onto her skin - Charlie became seriously ill too but survived.

A post mortem found she died of Novichok poisoning.

The incident in Amesbury came five months after the attempted murder of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.

Novichok had been put onto the door handle of his home in Salisbury.

That also injured Wiltshire Police officer DS Nick Bailey - all three of them were cared for in Salisbury and made a recovery.

The Skripals won't be giving evidence to the inquiry for safety and security reasons.

Police later named two Russian suspects thought to have brought Novichok to the city - but they've never been extradited.

Last week, Prime Minister at the time Teresa May, told a podcast that she hoped the inquiry would give Dawn's family 'some comfort' but feared that it won't result in 'justice'. |newtab)

The Guildhall has been closed off to the public while the hearings take place, with Wiltshire Police stepping up their presence in the city.

The force has reassured local people that there's no wider risk to the public though. |newtab)

The inquiry, chaired by Lord Hughes, is expected to hear evidence from Government sources, emergency services who attended and Dawn's family.

Proceedings will begin at Salisbury Guildhall this week before moving to London's Royal Courts of Justice later this month.

It's expected to continue until December.

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