A public inquiry will be held following the death of Dawn Sturgess, who was unwittingly poisoned by Novichok brought to the UK by Russian agents sent to murder Sergei Skripal in Salisbury.
Three years ago, the 44-year old died after she sprayed nerve agent onto her skin using a bottle of Wiltshire emulsion in the mistaken belief it was perfume. Charlie Rowley, her partner, fell ill, but he survived.
Moscow was targeting Sergei Skripal. An ex-Russian military intelligence officer, who was made a double agent by BritainYulia and her father, a poisoned couple, survived and now are believed to be in hiding in the United States.
In 2018, police identified Alexander Mishkin who was known as Alexander Petrov, while living in the UK. Anatoliy Chepiga who went by the alias Ruslan Borshirov, were the other suspects. The Met also revealed that Sergey Fedotov (real name Denis Sergeev) was the mysterious ‘third man in the plot in September 2018.
Priti Patel, the Home Secretary has granted permission to convert Ms Sturgess’s 44-year old inquest into a public inquiry. This is to examine Russian involvement and to investigate whether she was poisoned by Kremlin-sponsored poisoning.
Ms. Patel wrote to Baroness Heather Hallett in a letter. She said that she hoped the inquiry would bring comfort (to Ms. Sturgess and other affected families) by providing more information about the circumstances surrounding Ms. Sturgess’ death as well as acknowledging the courage and resilience of all those who replied.
According to Ms Patel’s statement, it is likely that the inquiry would take place in Salisbury Guildhall, as well at London locations, and will be concluded ‘as soon in 2022’.
Priti Patel, a Priti Patel spokesperson, has stated that Dawn Sturgess died from unintentional poisoning by Novichok. It was sent to her body by Russian agents in Salisbury.
A fake perfume box was discovered by Mr Rowley on June 2018. After being exposed to nerve agent, Ms Sturgess succumbed.
Russian agents tracked Sergei and Yulia Sripal five years ago (pictured) – the Russians survived but Dawn Sturgess was tragically killed
After Charlie Rowley and Ms. Sturgess became severely ill, they fell ill together in Amesbury Wiltshire. They had come in contact with Novichok through a bottle of perfume that was being discarded.
This happened after the attempted murder of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia Skripal. Nick Bailey was also poisoned. In March of that year, Russian military intelligence personnel are suspected to have put nerve agent onto Mr Skripal’s Salisbury doorknob.
They all survived as well as Mr Rowley.
Metropolitan Police has identified three suspected poisoners: Denis Sergeev; Alexander Mishkin; and Anatoliy Cherpiga. These suspects used the pseudonyms Sergey Fedotov or Alexander Petrov while they were in the UK.
Police are appealing to the public for information on how and why the bottle was discovered eight miles from Salisbury. They also want to know where the bottle was kept between its arrival in the UK three months later and when it was returned to them.
According to them, the suspects are all in Russia. The UK has no extradition treaty so they believe it is unlikely that they will ever be brought here.
Ms. Patel has previously condemned this ‘appalling attack’, and said to the House of Commons that Britain would “take every possible measure to detain or extradite them to face the justice” should any suspects flee Russia.
Next month, a second pre-inquest review will be conducted.
Prior to writing to Ms Patel the coroner pressed her for a public inquiry based on the fact that an inquest, which has a limited scope, ‘cannot find any civil or criminal liability against any named person and it cannot attribute blame or impose any punishment or sanction’.
Baroness Hallett spoke at September’s hearing before the Royal Courts of Justice and stated that she could not conduct a fair and impartial inquest into Dawn Sturgess’ death. If these proceedings are continued as an inquiry, it would be a serious mistake.
Moscow repeatedly denies any involvement. President Vladimir Putin claimed that the suspects were civilians and Petrov, Boshirov stated in an interview they were tourists visiting Salisbury Cathedral.
The movements of two intelligence officers – who used the aliases Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov – will be investigated during the probe into the death of Dawn Sturgess, Coroner Baroness Hallett said in March.
She died four months after Mr Skripal (66), and Yulia (33) were discovered unconscious in a Salisbury park bench.
Both were discharged from the hospital shortly after Ms Sturgess became ill and Mr Rowley was taken to the hospital.
Baroness Hallett explained that an inquest into the murder of Ms. Sturgess would examine whether and from where the Kremlin were responsible.
According to her, the pre-inquest review that looked at Ms Sturgess’s death separately could lead to an “incomplete and possibly misleading investigation”.
The 44-year old’s death was also an issue for her.
Dawn Sturgess, mother-of-three (left), and Charlie Rowley (right), fell ill in the flat following an accidental exposure to poisonous perfume. Her death occurred in Salisbury (Wiltshire) on the 8th of July that year. He was still very ill and has since been fully recovered.
The demolition of Charlie Rowley’s flat and one from a neighboring apartment after they were contaminated. (Photo: Last year).
Nick Bailey, Detective Sergeant in the 1980s (pictured here with Sarah) was also seriously ill. He recovered.
According to Coroner Baroness Hallett, the investigation into Dawn Sturgess’ death will focus on the 2013 movements of Ruslan and Alexander Boshirov (left), respectively.
The suspects were spotted at Salisbury Train Station, where they believe that the authorities are conducting a reconnaissance mission. Russia says they are tourists, visiting the tall spire of the Cathedral.
Baroness Hallett outlined what the preliminary scope of the inquest was. She said that there was a lot of force behind the arguments made by Mr O’Connor, Andrew O’Connor QC. He suggested to me that an investigation be conducted into Dawn Sturgess’s death. However, it should not include any investigation as to how Novichok ended up in Salisbury then Amesbury. Also, why Novichok came to this country. Who brought it? And who directed it. This would lead to it.
Sergey Fedotov (realname Denis Sergeev), the third suspect in Salisbury poisoning, was recognized by police officers. They said that he was Russian and about fifty years old. This is an image taken from one of his travel documents
Two Russians, Alexander Petrov, and Ruslan Borshirov were previously charged with conspiracy to murder in relation to the Skripals attack.
The men deny any involvement in the incident and give a mocking interview to state TV in which they claim they were in Salisbury only for a tour of the cathedral.
Russia denied involvement in the incident, and President Vladimir Putin claimed that both suspects were civilians and not military personnel.
O’Connor stated that the suspects have not been involved in the inquiry process thus far and requested for an investigation into wider questions about Russian involvement.
He explained that the inquiry should include not just the conducts of Mr Petrov, Mr Boshirov, and also the source for the Novichok or wider Russian state responsibility.
“Where is the Novichok from?” What instructions were given to the men who sent them to Salisbury? Is that at the highest level?
According to him, there is’very substantial public interest in the disclosure of the complete facts in these matters’. He also stated that ‘this is probably the only chance to do this, forensically in a legal venue’.
A decision would be made by the coroner on whether to transform the inquest into an open inquiry.
Hearing was rescheduled for a pre-inquest review, which will take place in June or July. Also, the coroner suggested that an inquest might still take place in Wiltshire.
She stated that it was important to assure Wiltshire residents and their families that we have done all possible to resolve this issue.