THE preliminary hearing to be held ahead of the public inquiry into the death of Dawn Sturgess will begin tomorrow.

The 44-year-old died in 2018 having been poisoned by Novichok which was present on a discarded perfume bottle.

Then Home Secretary Priti Patel granted permission for Ms Sturgess’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 a letter to the coroner Baroness Heather Hallett, Ms Patel said: “I hope this inquiry will bring comfort to (Ms Sturgess’s 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.”

The full inquiry is likely to be held in 2023, at The Royal Courts Of Justice, The Strand, London, with evidence sessions expected in Salisbury and London. 

The chair of the Inquiry is Lord Hughes.

Ms Sturgess died in hospital on July 8 after she and her partner, Charlie Rowley, became seriously ill in Amesbury when they came into contact with Novichok on a discarded perfume bottle.

It followed the attempted murder of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, his daughter Yulia, and ex-police officer Nick Bailey, who were poisoned in Salisbury in March that year when members of a Russian military intelligence squad are believed to have smeared the deadly nerve agent on Mr Skripal’s door handle in Salisbury.

All three survived, as did Mr Rowley.