The public inquiry into the death of Dawn Sturgess will begin in Salisbury in October.

Dawn Sturgess, 44, died after she was exposed to Novichok in Amesbury in July 2018. The nerve agent had been stored in a discarded perfume bottle. 

It followed the attempted murders of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in March 2018, as well as the poisoning of ex-police officer DS Nick Bailey. All three survived, as did Ms Sturgess’s boyfriend Charlie Rowley.

READ MORE: Novichok poisonings: Some material will be secret in Sturgess inquest

The Metropolitan Police 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 while in the UK.

(Image: Newsquest)

An inquiry was established on March 17, 2022, under the Inquiries Act 2005 as a means of investigating her death. The inquiry has been set up to take the place of the inquest so all evidence can be heard to fully explore the issue of Russian state responsibility.

Preliminary hearings have been held at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on March 25, 2022; July 15, 2022; November 11, 2022; March 24, 2023; September 6, 2023; February 2, 2024 and June 21, 2024, with the open enquiry set to begin in October - six years since Ms Sturgess died.

In March 2023, The Government’s KC, Cathryn McGahey, addressed the concerns on how long the process was taking.

She said: “Of course, we understand why the family are asking why things are taking so long.

A major incident was declared in Salisbury as a result of the poisonings in 2018A major incident was declared in Salisbury as a result of the poisonings in 2018 (Image: NQ)

“We have to assume that anything we put on any open system is no longer secure – it’s nothing to do with any wish to withhold anything from the family.

“There have been sensitivities in over 1,000 documents so far.”

In the last hearing, it was heard that the Skripals may give evidence at the public enquiry, with concerns surrounding "trauma", "distress" and national security raised.

The Government’s KC, Cathryn McGahey told the hearing: “The safety of the Skripals is paramount.”

The inquiry is due to begin on October 14 at the Guildhall, with Rt Hon Lord Hughes of Ombersley, former judge of the Supreme Court, as well as a Lord Justice of Appeal and vice president of the Criminal Division, appointed by the home secretary to chair the inquiry.