Public inquiry will be held into death of Novichok victim Dawn Sturgess

The Home Secretary has confirmed that a public inquiry will be held following the death of Dawn Sturgess, who was poisoned by Novichok in Amesbury in 2018.

Priti Patel has granted permission for the 44 year old's inquest to be converted into a public inquiry to better examine any possible Russian involvement, amid allegations she died as an indirect result of Kremlin-sponsored poisoning.

In her letter to the coroner Baroness Heather Hallett, Ms Patel said:

"I hope this inquiry will bring comfort to (Ms Sturgess' 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."

In September, at the pre-inquest hearing, Baroness Hallett requested turning the investigation into a public one.

It's likely the inquiry will be held in both Salisbury Guildhall and in London.

Stan Sturgess, Ms Sturgess's father, said:

"We welcome the decision. Our legal team has worked tirelessly on our behalf and hopefully in the near future we will finally have closure."

Ms Patel said it will be established "as soon as is reasonably possible in 2022".

At the pre inquest hearing, the Royal Courts of Justice heard how Baroness Hallett previously requested 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.

Ms Sturgess, from Durrington, died at Salisbury District Hospital on July 8th 2018 after her and her partner Mr Rowley became seriously ill following coming into contact with the substance on a perfume bottle at his flat in Amesbury.

It came after the attempted murder of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in March 2018 when it's believed members of a Russian military intelligence squad put the nerve agent on his door handle.

Mr Skripal, his daughter Yulia and former police officer Nick Bailey all fell ill, but survived.

The Metropolitan Police have identified three suspects wanted in connection with the poisonings: Denis Sergeev, Alexander Mishkin and Anatoliy Chepiga, who used the aliases Sergey Fedotov, Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov respectively while in the UK.

A further pre-inquest review is planned for next month.

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