Novichok: Inquiry into Dawn Sturgess' death delayed
There's been no-one appointed to lead the hearings
A public inquiry into how Durrington woman Dawn Sturgess died after being poisoned by nerve agent novichok has been delayed.
Today (Friday 25th February), was due to be the first hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice, led by Baroness Heather Hallett.
But she's now been appointed to lead the Covid-19 public inquiry, and a successor hasn't been chosen yet, causing the delay.
WHAT HAPPENED?
44 year old Dawn Sturgess died at Salisbury District Hospital in July 2018, after unwittingly coming into contact with novichok from a perfume bottle in Amesbury.
That bottle was found in Salisbury by her boyfriend, Charlie Rowley, who was also poisoned but survived.
Four months earlier, former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned at Mr Skripal's Salisbury home, with police officer Nick Bailey also coming into contact with the nerve agent.
All three of them also survived.
Michael Mansfield QC, who's representing the victim's family and Ms Sturgess's partner Charlie Rowley, said the Russian invasion of Ukraine this week underlined the need to progress with the inquiry without delay:
"As of today, or yesterday, there is a poignancy about what is happening in Ukraine and eastern Europe at the moment, for the necessity of this inquiry not losing a single day."
Lady Hallett said she had been putting "extreme pressure on, behind the scenes" to ensure her successor was appointed:
"It is, I have to say, a disappointment to me to be sitting here today with no inquiry set up and no judge appointed to lead it.
"I have seen a letter from Birnberg Peirce, the solicitors who represent the Sturgess family and also Mr Rowley, expressing a degree of frustration at the delay - that is a frustration that I share.
"Many other people have been affected (by the poisoning) and they too have the right to have these proceedings heard as soon as possible."
Ben Watson QC, counsel for the Government, said a chairman was expected to be appointed in the next two weeks.
He said it was "regrettable" the appointment had not been made, and added that "recent events" had increased demands on the Government.
When the hearings do take place, they're expected to be held in both Salisbury and London.