Update

Public hearings are taking place at the International Dispute Resolution Centre (1 Paternoster Lane, London EC4M 7BQ).

Timetables for week 4 and week 5 are available here: DSI Hearing Timetable Week 4 and DSI Hearing Timetable Week 5.

A forward look at the timetable for all hearing weeks is available here: DSI Public Hearings Timetable Forward Look.

The hearings will be streamed to the Inquiry’s YouTube channel subject to a 10-minute delay, except where ‘Level 2’ arrangements are in place (see the hearing timetable above for details). Video recordings of the hearings will be published on the YouTube channel.

Further information for the public is provided in a note on Public Access to Hearings.

Information for the media is included in a Media Operational Note.

Background

On 18 November 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 8 July 2018. The post mortem indicated the cause of her death was Novichok poisoning.

The Inquiry was formally established on 17 March 2022.

The Inquiry has been set up to take the place of the Inquest, (conducted by the Coroner, Rt Hon Baroness Hallett DBE), in order to allow all relevant evidence to be heard.

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

Terms of Reference

1. Subject to paragraph 2 below, the Chair is to conduct an investigation into the death of Dawn Sturgess in order to:

(a) Ascertain, in accordance with section 5(1) of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 who the deceased was; how; when and where she came by her death; and the particulars (if any) required by the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 to be registered concerning the death;

(b) Identify, so far as consistent with section 2 of the Inquiries Act 2005, where responsibility for the death lies; and

(c) Make such recommendations as may seem appropriate.

2. That investigation is to take into account the investigations which have already been conducted by the Coroner (Baroness Hallett).