TODAY will see the Dawn Sturgess Inquiry start, with evidence sessions in Salisbury Guildhall from 11am. 

Here is everything you need to know: 

Background

On November 18, 2021 the Home Secretary announced the Government’s decision to establish an inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005 to investigate the death of Dawn Sturgess.

Dawn Sturgess was pronounced dead at Salisbury District Hospital on July 8 2018.

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

It followed the attempted murder of former spy Mr Skripal, his daughter Yulia and ex-police officer Nick Bailey, who were poisoned in March that year.

The Inquiry was formally established on March 17, 2022.

The Inquiry has been set up to take the place of the Inquest, in order to allow all relevant evidence to be heard.

The Inquiry is chaired by The Rt Hon Lord Hughes of Ombersley.

Public hearings will commence at the Guildhall in Salisbury this week (October 14 to October 18).

Timetable for the week

As you can see in the table below, today's sessions start at 11am, and will hear opening statements from the counsel to the inquiry, in the morning and afternoon, as well as statements from 'core participants'. 

 

Dawn Sturgess Inquiry Public Hearings TimetableDawn Sturgess Inquiry Public Hearings Timetable (Image: Dawn Sturgess Inquiry) The hearings will start at 10am every day for the rest of week, and among other things there will be evidence from Caroline Sturgess, and evidence "to be adduced relating to Charlie Rowley".

There will be a break next week, before the inquiry will resume at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in London on October 28.

For more information on the inquiry, including a forward look at the timetable for all hearing weeks, click here. 

Sergei and Yulia Skripal

Sergei Skripal and his daughter YuliaSergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia The Skripals will not give evidence at the hearings.

The judge leading the inquiry said if Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia are identified and their current whereabouts are discovered, the risk of an attack on them “is not properly controllable”.

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

However, Lord Hughes of Ombersley, in his ruling this month, said there is an “overwhelming risk” of a physical attack on the Skripals.