Dawn Sturgess Public Inquiry: Putin called as witness

At 11am on Monday, October 14, The Dawn Sturgess Public Inquiry opened, beginning with opening remarks from retired judge Lord Hughes who is chairing the inquiry.

Lord Hughes said: "The second event [the poisoning of Dawn Sturgess and Charlie Rowley] has attracted rather less attention [than that of the Skripals]. But it is the second event, the untimely death of Dawn Sturgess at the end of June/early July, which is the reason why this Inquiry is taking place.

“An Inquest cannot investigate classified material of a kind which may affect national security, of which there is some here. So the inquest was converted into a public inquiry, which does have the power to do so, and to close some of its sessions to the public for the purpose.

READ MORE: LIVE: Dawn Sturgess Public Inquiry at Salisbury Guildhall 

'This remains at root an investigation into the sudden death of an entirely private person, who had no kind of public role or profile. I should be very grateful if those who are minded to comment would do their utmost to remember that it is, for a real family, about a private tragedy and a private loss.”

The inquiry is taking place at Salisbury Guildhall, and will then resume in London on October 28 (Image: Crown Copyright) He then handed over to Mr O'Connor, representing the counsel to the inquiry, to introduce the material ahead.

Mr O' Connor described the day of the two poisonings, and the route of suspects Petrov and Boshirov when they were alleged to have come to Salisbury and smeared the nerve agent on the door of Skripals.

Petrov and Boshirov have been written to three times for a response to the allegations, but they never responded. In an interview with RT - a Russian TV channel, they denied knowing where Sergei Skripal's house was, saying that they came to Salisbury as tourists. 

It was also stated that Skripal blames Putin for the attack, saying “I believe Putin makes all important decisions himself. I therefore think he must have at least given permission for the attack on Yulia and me”.

“It felt like James Bond meets the Archers”, read Michael Mansfield on behalf of the family, 'what would have happened if the Nina Ricci bottle had been taken into and used in a crowded local venue? It was capable of causing a massacre.'

Sergei Skripal blames Putin for the nerve agent attack which later led to the death of Dawn Sturgess (Image: NQ)

The family also asked the chair to consider Mr Putin to come to the Inquiry as a witness.

'In light of that new evidence, the family invite the Chair to call Mr Putin as a witness, to give oral evidence to the inquiry.

READ MORE: Novichok: How the Salisbury Journal broke the story

'He should not cower behind the walls of the Kremlin. He should look Dawn’s family in the eyes and answer the evidence against him', the statement continues.

Opening remarks from John Beggs (Wiltshire Police), Lisa Giovannetti of Operation Verbasco (Metropolitan Police Service and Thames Valley Police), Cathryn McGahey of His Majesty's Government, Bridget Dolan of South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and Andrew Deakin - representing the Skripals.

Mr Deakin said the Skripals 'keenly await' the outcome of the inquiry and 'look forward' to having a better understanding of the circumstances of the Salisbury attack, to hear the inquiry's conclusions as to who was responsible for the attack and to being able to 'move on with their lives'.

The inquiry continues.