Dawn Sturgess
(Picture: PA)The public inquiry into the Novichok poisonings will be held in Salisbury, the new chairman has promised, as he pledged to deliver “authoritative” conclusions on Russian state involvement.
Dawn Sturgess died on July 8, 2018, after coming into contact with the deadly nerve agent which she unwittingly sprayed it on to herself, believing it was perfume.
Her death came after former Russian military officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia fell ill from Novichok, which is believed to have been brought to the UK by agents working for President Vladimir Putin.
Ms Sturgess’ partner Charlie Rowley and Detective Inspector Nick Bailey also came into contact with the nerve agent, but like the Skripals they survived.
At the first day of a public inquiry into the incident, which sparked days of lockdowns around Salisbury, new chair Lord Hughes promised a “full and thorough investigation” into what had happened, including the alleged involvement of the Russian state.
“I should like to express my sympathy to Ms Sturgess’ family and also to Mr Charlie Rowley, who was her partner at the time of her death”, he said in his opening remarks.
“Although this inquiry will, I expect, deal with wide-ranging matters including international politics and complex science, we must not lose sight of the fact that at its heart is the death of a woman who had no international or security life.
“She was dearly loved and must, I am sure, be much missed by her family and friends.
“I am also very conscious of the effect that delay in these proceedings must have on the Sturgess family. I am sure the family wants this inquiry to move forward as quickly as possible.
“That is a wish that I share.”
The inquiry was established last week by Home Secretary Priti Patel, to replace the inquest into Ms Sturgess’ death and to enable matters of national security to be heard in private sessions.
Despite a level of confidentiality surrounding the inquiry, Lord Hughes said he wants public sessions to be held in Salisbury to “reflect the heavy impact that I know these events had on that city”.
The retired Supreme Court judge promised to “make public as many of my conclusions as possible, together with the reasons for them”.
“This has got to be a full and thorough investigation,” he added.
“The Terms of Reference raise issues of the utmost gravity, including the allegation which has been publicly made of Russian state responsibility for the killing of Ms Sturgess.
“Those issues demand, and will receive, rigorous investigation.
“Recent world events highlight the importance of the conclusions that I reach being carefully arrived at, right, and authoritative.”
Ms Sturgess’ parents, two sons, and a young daughter have been made interested parties in the inquiry, while an application by the Skripals to be involved in proceedings was accepted.
Lord Hughes pointed out the three Russians who have been publicly accused of carrying out the Novichok attack are unlikely to take part in the inquiry, while a rebuttal of the accusations has been made by the Russian embassy in London.
The chair said he does not yet know whether the ambition to hold the inquiry in February 2023 can be achieved. He intends to hold a private hearing to consider national security matters before setting future dates.
Counsel to the inquiry Andrew O’Connor QC told the hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice that there have been “striking and regrettable” delays in disclosure of evidence to lawyers investigating the incident.
And he said the government has warned the war in Ukraine could delay the inquiry further: “The need to protect the UK from threats posed by Russia and other hostile agents has never been more acute.
“The overlap by those working across government of those assisting the inquiry and those working in real-time on the threats posed by the Russian state has and will continue to impact on the timetable for disclosure,” he said, summarising the government’s stated position.
The hearing continues.
