Kremlin role in novichok death examined in inquest
THE inquest into the death of novichok victim Dawn Sturgess will look at the role of the Kremlin in her poisoning, the coroner said.
Dawn, 44, collapsed at partner Charlie Rowley’s home in Amesbury, Wilts, in 2018 after coming into contact with a perfume bottle containing the deadly nerve agent. She died in hospital days later.
It followed the attempted poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, in nearby Salisbury four months earlier. Dawn’s family have pushed for the inquest into her death to examine the role of the Russian state and yesterday Coroner Baroness Hallett told a pre-inquest review at the Royal Courts of Justice that it would.
The hearing was adjourned until another pre-inquest review in June or July.
Police previously said there was enough evidence to charge Russians Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov over the Skripal attack. The men denied any involvement, as has Russia. This week, a three-year ban on picking up litter in communities close to the novichok poisonings is set to be lifted.
The potential relaxation of the ban, three years after the Salisbury poisonings, would allow entries into the best-kept village competition.
Public Health England said the ban is “under review” and will be updated when the time is right. It added: “As a precaution PHE continues to advise not to pick up any items. The advice remains ‘if you didn’t drop it, don’t pick it up’.”