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Litvinenko judge criticises suspect's 'charade' Litvinenko judge criticises suspect's 'charade'
(35 minutes later)
Claims by a suspect in the killing of Alexander Litvinenko that he wanted to give evidence to the inquiry into the spy’s death may have been a “charade”, the judge leading the probe has said. Claims by a suspect in the killing of Alexander Litvinenko that he wanted to give evidence to the inquiry into the spy’s death may have been a “charade”, the presiding judge has said.
Dmitry Kovtun was due to provide testimony by video link from Moscow but withdrew at the 11th hour. Dmitry Kovtun was due to provide testimony by videolink from Moscow but withdrew at the 11th hour.
He was given a deadline by the inquiry chairman, Sir Robert Owen, to appear by 9am on Tuesday but it was finally confirmed that he will not participate.He was given a deadline by the inquiry chairman, Sir Robert Owen, to appear by 9am on Tuesday but it was finally confirmed that he will not participate.
The inquiry’s representative in Moscow told the hearing at the high court in London that Kovtun had contacted him 45 minutes earlier to say he would not take part on Tuesday or Wednesday.The inquiry’s representative in Moscow told the hearing at the high court in London that Kovtun had contacted him 45 minutes earlier to say he would not take part on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Owen gave a detailed account of the inquiry’s dealings with both the suspect and Russian authorities.Owen gave a detailed account of the inquiry’s dealings with both the suspect and Russian authorities.
He concluded by saying: “This unhappy sequence of events drives me to the conclusion either that Mr Kovtun never in truth intended to give evidence and that this has been a charade.He concluded by saying: “This unhappy sequence of events drives me to the conclusion either that Mr Kovtun never in truth intended to give evidence and that this has been a charade.
“Alternatively, if he has at some stage been genuine in his expressed intention to give evidence, obstacles have been put in the way of his doing so.“Alternatively, if he has at some stage been genuine in his expressed intention to give evidence, obstacles have been put in the way of his doing so.
“In either case I will not have the progress of the inquiry further disrupted.”“In either case I will not have the progress of the inquiry further disrupted.”
The videolink to Moscow was briefly activated to show the inquiry’s official sitting next to an empty chair.
Asked if he had communicated with Kovtun, the representative said: “I spoke to him about 45 minutes ago. He told me that he will not take part today or tomorrow.
“He said he will not comment … he said he will do so by email communication.”
After the link was closed, Robin Tam QC, counsel to the inquiry, said: “That would seem to make the situation crystal clear.”