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Jacintha Saldanha: Inquest for hoax call nurse starts Jacintha Saldanha inquest: Royal hoax station 'made more calls'
(35 minutes 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. An Australian radio station which made a prank call to nurses treating the Duchess of Cambridge during her first pregnancy made four further calls to the hospital, an inquest has heard.
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. The hospital's barrister said the other calls were made shortly after the hoax but their content was unknown.
The inquest is due to last one or two days. One of the DJs, Mel Greig, has volunteered to give evidence.
Westminster Coroners' Court is sitting at the Royal Courts of Justice for the inquest. Without consent
MP Keith Vaz, who has acted as a spokesman for the Saldanha family, is with them in court. Fiona Barton QC, representing the hospital, told the inquest: "If she [Mrs Saldanha] answered any of these calls - and there were four of them - then it can only have added to the stress she was under when she realised this was a prank call by a radio station."
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. "We do not know if the calls were in fact answered. If they were answered by Jacintha Saldanha there is an issue as to what was said as that could have further confounded the stress she felt and therefore had an impact on her death some time after."
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." Ms Barton said that if the calls were made in an attempt to obtain consent from the hospital to broadcast the prank then they "would have been taped". She added that no follow-up calls were made during working hours.
Maya Sikand, representing the DJs' employer, Southern Cross Media Group, told the hearing: "We cannot see now how this issue will assist the court in any way."
She accepted that the station broadcast the prank call without consent.
Ms Greig, who is at the inquest, said she was prepared to give evidence even though she was not on the official list of witnesses.
She tweeted before the hearing: "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."
Her lawyer, Gerwyn Samuel, told the court: "My client is in court having come to this country voluntarily in order to assist in any way she can, primarily to uphold her promise to the family of Jacintha Saldanha to answer any questions they may have."
Detailed updateDetailed update
Westminster Coroners' Court is sitting at the Royal Courts of Justice for the inquest which is expected to last two days.
MP Keith Vaz, who has acted as a spokesman for the Saldanha family, is with them in court.
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.
What are the key issues?What are the key issues?
by Peter Hunt, BBC royal correspondentby 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 blogRead 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. Mrs Saldanha, who was 46, was working at King Edward VII hospital in London 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. She transferred the call to a ward where the duchess was being treated for a severe form of morning sickness, and another nurse there revealed confidential medical details on her condition to the hoaxers.
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.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.