Ex-spy and daughter will not give evidence in court

A erstwhile spy and his daughter, who were victims of the Salisbury poisonings, volition not beryllium called to springiness grounds astatine a nationalist enquiry retired of fears for their safety.

An enquiry is acceptable to statesman regarding the death of Dawn Sturgess, a parent of 3 from Wiltshire, who died successful July 2018 aft coming into interaction with the deadly Novichok nervus agent.

She died 4 months aft the targeted nervus cause onslaught connected Sergei and Yulia Skripal successful Salisbury,

The justice presiding implicit the enquiry has ruled the imaginable risks of carnal information to the Skripals outweigh immoderate benefits of their testimony.

Sergei and Yulia Skripal were recovered unconscious connected a seat successful Salisbury connected March 4, 2018, pursuing vulnerability to Novichok.

This incidental sparked a monolithic international investigation, starring to accusations Russian agents had smeared the nervus cause connected their beforehand doorway grip successful an assassination attempt.

The Kremlin has consistently denied involvement.

In June 2018, Ms Sturgess was fatally poisoned aft accidentally spraying herself with a substance she believed to beryllium perfume, but which turned retired to beryllium Novichok.

The vessel is believed to person been discarded by the aforesaid agents who targeted the Skripals.

An inquest into Ms Sturgess' decease was opened successful 2021, but the coroner called for a nationalist enquiry to let entree to classified intelligence, which volition beryllium considered privately.

Now, six years aft Ms Sturgess’ death, the enquiry aims to uncover much details astir what happened, who was responsible, and whether the calamity could person been prevented.

Ms Sturgess' household had called for the Skripals to springiness grounds astatine the inquiry, arsenic they proceed to question answers regarding the circumstances surrounding their daughter’s death.

However, Lord Hughes of Ombersley, who is starring the inquiry, has ruled the Skripals volition not appear, citing the important risks to their safety.

"There is each crushed to judge that an onslaught akin to the 1 that took spot successful 2018 remains a existent threat," Lord Hughes stated.

He explained that if the Skripals’ identities oregon locations were revealed, they could go targets erstwhile again.

Lord Hughes besides ruled retired the anticipation of the Skripals giving grounds remotely, citing concerns that the information of immoderate video nexus could beryllium compromised, perchance exposing their location.

The justice was besides disquieted that if the Skripals were seen oregon heard, their identities could go wide known, expanding the hazard of further attacks.

Furthermore, helium ordered interviews from 2018, successful which the Skripals were seen answering questions, should not beryllium played, arsenic this footage could beryllium utilized to place them today.

He concluded the household of Ms Sturgess could inactive person answers done alternate evidence, specified arsenic interrogation transcripts oregon written grounds from the Skripals if necessary.

"I americium satisfied that the hazard of further attacks outweighs immoderate payment successful playing the interviews," helium said.

The nationalist enquiry is scheduled to statesman connected 14 October successful Salisbury earlier moving to London.