Dawn Sturgess: Coroner says Novichok death inquest should become public inquiry
It would be unlikely to start before 2023
Last updated 22nd Sep 2021
The coroner at the pre-inquest hearing into the death of Novichok victim Dawn Sturgess will request turning the investigation into a full public inquiry.
Baroness Heather Hallett's counsel accused the Home Secretary of not engaging "more constructively" with the process.
The Royal Courts of Justice heard how Baroness Hallett previously requested the Priti Patel's provisional view on whether the inquest into Ms Sturgess' death in Amesbury in 2018 could be widened to a public inquiry to better examine Russian involvement.
However, Ms Patel said it would "inappropriate" to do in advance of a formal request and declined.
The coroner will now write to the Home Office doing just that, with confirmation expected by the end of this year.
Announcing her decision, the coroner said:
"As set out in my letter to the Secretary of State for the Home Department, I have firmly concluded that I cannot conduct a full, fair and effective inquest into the death of Dawn Sturgess if these proceedings continue as an inquest.
"I have seen substantial material that is far too sensitive to be made public, even in gisted form.
"I have no option, therefore, but to request the Secretary of State convert this inquest into an inquiry and I invite her to consider my request as a matter of urgency."
Any public inquiry is unlikely to start before 2023, and will be held partly in private for security reasons.
If granted, it would likely take place at Salisbury Guildhall and in London.
The coroner said she would request the Home Secretary's reply within two months and Cathryn McGahey QC, for the Government, said Ms Patel would "very much aim to make a decision" by Christmas.
Adam Straw QC, representing Ms Sturgess' family and her partner Charlie Rowley, backed the call for a public inquiry:
"Their overriding concern is to ensure the truth of how Ms Sturgess died is established.
"No family should wait five-and-a-half years to find out how someone died."
Ms Sturgess, 44 and from Durrington, died at Salisbury District Hospital on July 8th 2018 after her and her partner Mr Rowley became seriously ill after they came into contact with the substance on a perfume bottle at his flat in Amesbury.
A further pre-inquest review will be held in December.
Yesterday (Tuesday 21st September), a third suspect was accused of attempted murder in relation with the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in Salisbury.