UK to hold public inquiry into Dawn Sturgess 2018 death from nerve agent Novichok poisoning

British Home Secretary Priti Patel gives permission for mother-of-three’s inquest to convert to public inquiry to better investigate what happened

There are allegations the 44-year-old died as indirect result of Kremlin-sponsored poisoning of former Russian spy earlier that year

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Mother-of-three Dawn Sturgess died in 2018 following exposure to the nerve agent Novichok in southwest England, four months after the same type of chemical was used against a former Russian spy in an attack blamed on Moscow. Photo: AFP via Facebook

Published: 8:43pm, 18 Nov 2021Updated: 8:43pm, 18 Nov 2021

A public inquiry will be held in Britain following the death of Dawn Sturgess, who was unwittingly poisoned by the nerve agent Novichok in 2018.

British Home Secretary Priti Patel has granted permission for 44-year-old 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 her letter to the coroner Baroness Heather Hallett, Patel said: “I hope this inquiry will bring comfort to (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 inquiry is likely to be held in Salisbury Guildhall and also at London venues, and be established “as soon as is reasonably possible in 2022,” Patel said.

Sturgess died in hospital on July 8 2018 after she and her partner, Charlie Rowley, became seriously ill in Amesbury, Wiltshire, when they came into contact with Novichok on a discarded perfume bottle.