Inquiry to open into the Novichok poisonings which left one woman dead

An inquiry into the tragic death of a British woman who was fatally poisoned by the Russian nerve agent Novichok is due to open on Monday. Dawn Sturgess, 44, died after being exposed to the chemical weapon which was left in a discarded perfume bottle in Amesbury, Wiltshire, in July 2018.

This incident happened after the attempted murder of former spy Sergei Skripal, his daughter Yulia, and police officer Nick Bailey in nearby Salisbury in March of the same year.

The trio were exposed to the toxin when it is believed that operatives from a Russian military intelligence unit applied Novichok to Mr Skripal’s door handle.

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All three victims survived, as did Ms Sturgess's partner Charlie Rowley, who had inadvertently gifted her the perfume bottle containing the deadly agent.

International warrants have been issued for the arrest of three Russian men suspected of involvement in these attacks on UK soil. However, due to the Russian constitution prohibiting the extradition of its nationals, it appears unlikely that they will be brought to trial.

Two of the suspects have since appeared in an interview with Russian state media, claiming their visit to the UK was solely to see Salisbury Cathedral.

It was previously revealed that the Skripals will not give evidence at the inquiry over fears for their safety.

It comes as Wiltshire Police said people in Salisbury city centre can expect to see an increased police presence for the duration of the hearing.

They added that there is “no current intelligence to suggest there is any risk to the wider public”.

In June, a preliminary hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice heard that the Sturgess family wanted the Skripals to give oral evidence to address “unanswered questions”.

They were, however, excused from doing so in a subsequent ruling, with the relevant judgment citing an “overwhelming risk” of another physical attack on their lives.

The then-Home Secretary Priti Patel ordered that the inquest into Ms Sturgess’s death be converted into a public inquiry in 2021.

The Dawn Sturgess Inquiry, chaired by former Supreme Court judge Lord Hughes of Ombersley, is due to begin at The Guildhall in Salisbury on Monday.