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Jacintha Saldanha: Inquest for hoax call nurse starts | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
The inquest into the death of a nurse found hanged after she took a hoax call at a hospital in London about the Duchess of Cambridge has started. | |
Jacintha Saldanha was found dead on 7 December 2012, three days after taking the call from two Australian radio DJs. | Jacintha Saldanha was found dead on 7 December 2012, three days after taking the call from two Australian radio DJs. |
Mrs Saldanha had put the call through to the ward where the pregnant duchess was staying and another nurse there revealed confidential medical details. | Mrs Saldanha had put the call through to the ward where the pregnant duchess was staying and another nurse there revealed confidential medical details. |
The inquest is due to last one or two days. | |
Westminster Coroners' Court is sitting at the Royal Courts of Justice for the inquest. | |
MP Keith Vaz, who has acted as a spokesman for the Saldanha family, is with them in court. | |
One of the DJs, Mel Greig, has arrived at the inquest and said she is prepared to give evidence even though she is not on the official list of witnesses. | |
She tweeted: "I made a commitment to the Saldanha family that I would answer any questions they have, on or off the stand, I'm here to uphold that promise." | |
Detailed update | |
At a preliminary inquest hearing, a senior police officer said there were no suspicious circumstances. | At a preliminary inquest hearing, a senior police officer said there were no suspicious circumstances. |
The hearing was told there were injuries to Mrs Saldanha's wrist, and two notes were found among her possessions. | The hearing was told there were injuries to Mrs Saldanha's wrist, and two notes were found among her possessions. |
It is understood that nine witnesses will give evidence during the inquest. | It is understood that nine witnesses will give evidence during the inquest. |
What are the key issues? | What are the key issues? |
by Peter Hunt, BBC royal correspondent | by Peter Hunt, BBC royal correspondent |
It was meant to have been a fun and light-hearted prank. | It was meant to have been a fun and light-hearted prank. |
But three days after Jacintha Saldanha had put through the call from the Australian DJs she was found hanged at the nurses' accommodation where she was staying. | But three days after Jacintha Saldanha had put through the call from the Australian DJs she was found hanged at the nurses' accommodation where she was staying. |
Now, almost two years later, her delayed inquest is taking place. | Now, almost two years later, her delayed inquest is taking place. |
At an earlier hearing the coroner, Fiona Wilcox, said the nurse's state of mind was a "very important issue". | At an earlier hearing the coroner, Fiona Wilcox, said the nurse's state of mind was a "very important issue". |
Her family are keen to establish whether or not she was suitably trained to deal with the difficulties she faced. | Her family are keen to establish whether or not she was suitably trained to deal with the difficulties she faced. |
Their barrister told the coroner last year that they wouldn't be focusing on the care and the counselling she received after putting the DJs through to a colleague on the ward. | Their barrister told the coroner last year that they wouldn't be focusing on the care and the counselling she received after putting the DJs through to a colleague on the ward. |
At the time of her death, Mrs Saldanha was described as an "outstanding" nurse whose passing would leave "an unfillable void" in the lives of her family. | At the time of her death, Mrs Saldanha was described as an "outstanding" nurse whose passing would leave "an unfillable void" in the lives of her family. |
Read more from Peter Hunt on his blog | |
Mrs Saldanha, who was 46, was working at King Edward VII hospital when she answered a call from the DJs impersonating members of the royal family. | |
She transferred the call to a ward where the duchess was being treated for a severe form of morning sickness and a colleague there gave the hoaxers a detailed update on her condition. | |
In February last year, the Crown Prosecution Service said it would not bring charges against the DJs, Michael Christian and Ms Greig, saying there was no evidence to support a manslaughter case. | |
According to reports in Australia, a legal battle is in progress over whether the radio station broke Australian law by broadcasting the prank call. | According to reports in Australia, a legal battle is in progress over whether the radio station broke Australian law by broadcasting the prank call. |
The two presenters have said they were "gutted and heartbroken" over the death. | The two presenters have said they were "gutted and heartbroken" over the death. |
Ms Greig said she and her family had received death threats since Mrs Saldanha died. | Ms Greig said she and her family had received death threats since Mrs Saldanha died. |