that is one explanation for the delay — that is one explanation for the delay. the other distinguishing feature — delay. the other distinguishing feature of this case which has certainly— feature of this case which has certainly added to the time it is taken _ certainly added to the time it is taken to reach these hearings. the need to expose as much detail— the need to expose as much detail as _ the need to expose as much detail as possible, particularly discreditable conduct, the public scrutiny. the — conduct, the public scrutiny. the same _ conduct, the public scrutiny. the same requirement appears in six and _ the same requirement appears in six and18— the same requirement appears in six and 18 of the 2005 act. i have — six and 18 of the 2005 act. i have already made the point that— have already made the point that in— have already made the point that in this case, you will of necessity, _ that in this case, you will of necessity, he at some highly sensitive _ necessity, he at some highly sensitive evidence in closed session _ sensitive evidence in closed session. it does require that you — session. it does require that you only— session. it does require that you only permit evidence to be heard — you only permit evidence to be heard where that is absolutely

necessary. it is for that reason _ necessary. it is for that reason sir to make the open element _ reason sir to make the open element of these proceedings as wide as— element of these proceedings as wide as possible and conversely to minimise the content of the closed — to minimise the content of the closed hearings that you have spent — closed hearings that you have spent much of the last 18 months _ spent much of the last 18 months painstakingly reviewing applications over thousands of documents on a line by line basis — documents on a line by line basis. there is no question that— basis. there is no question that this _ basis. there is no question that this process has added considerably to the time that would — considerably to the time that would otherwise have been taken in preparing for these hearings. but that process has been _ hearings. but that process has been of— hearings. but that process has been of great value. the result of it— been of great value. the result of it in— been of great value. the result of it in practical terms is that— of it in practical terms is that we _ of it in practical terms is that we will be able to hear a great — that we will be able to hear a great deal of evidence about this case _ great deal of evidence about this case in the open public sessions _ this case in the open public sessions that are starting today _ sessions that are starting today i _ sessions that are starting today. i now turn to introduce a little — today. i now turn to introduce a little detail the core issues that— a little detail the core issues that we _ a little detail the core issues that we will examine in the

coming _ that we will examine in the coming weeks. i have already mentioned some of the issues, and i_ mentioned some of the issues, and i hope _ mentioned some of the issues, and i hope it will be that many of the — and i hope it will be that many of the issues overlap. there is of the issues overlap. there is of course _ of the issues overlap. there is of course the inquiry's provisional list issues and that— provisional list issues and that document is the product of debate — that document is the product of debate at — that document is the product of debate at the inquiry's preliminary... and subsequent refinement. it is available on the inquiry it is a comprehensive document and i don't propose... to read — document and i don't propose... to read it — document and i don't propose...

to read it out. rather i propose _ to read it out. rather i propose to spend the next hour~~~ _ studio: apologies, we are having problems with our live feed in salisbury. the public inquiry getting under way to examine how how a woman from wiltshire was killed in 2018 by a poisoning that was blamed on russian agents. this is being streamed to us with a ten minute delay, there are a few problems with the stream, as you can tell. so we will keep persevering with it unless it gets really bad, but this is the opening statement from the barrister about what is in store for this inquiry. we are going to hear the opening statements and then on tuesday we will hear from dawn sturgess's mother about her.

stu rgess's mother about her. she sturgess's mother about her. she was the 44—year—old woman who died after coming into contact with another truck, the novichok had been hidden inside a designer perfume bottle and the inquiry will try to examine circumstances leading up to the death of dawn sturgess. let's listen and hear how go. the life dawn — listen and hear how go. the life dawn enjoyed _ listen and hear how go. the life dawn enjoyed with her family— life dawn enjoyed with her family dawn grew up all her life in— family dawn grew up all her life in or— family dawn grew up all her life in or near salisbury. as a child — life in or near salisbury. as a child she _ life in or near salisbury. as a child she attended durrington setting — child she attended durrington setting driscoll. she had a dose _ setting driscoll. she had a close and supportive family and also -- — close and supportive family and also —— school. we will hear evidence _ also —— school. we will hear evidence from charlie rowley, don's — evidence from charlie rowley, don's partner when she died. we will hear— don's partner when she died. we will hear about the life they lived — will hear about the life they lived together 16 months before

her death. charlie rowley described dawn as a lovely lady — described dawn as a lovely lady. she had a big heart, she would — lady. she had a big heart, she would help anyone if she could. dawn's — would help anyone if she could. dawn's mother said dawn was the happiest — dawn's mother said dawn was the happiest she had been for a tong — happiest she had been for a long time when she was together with charlie. charlie himself described that relationship has been _ described that relationship has been very happy, supportive and loving _ been very happy, supportive and loving as — been very happy, supportive and loving as you will hear, chartie _ loving as you will hear, charlie was also poisoned by novichok. he was hospitalised and suffered serious symptoms he also — and suffered serious symptoms he also of — and suffered serious symptoms he also of course suffered a bereavement. to use his own words — bereavement. to use his own words in _ bereavement. to use his own words in a _ bereavement. to use his own words in a television interview, it was my girl friend _ interview, it was my girl friend i— interview, it was my girl friend i lost, my partner, my soutnrate _ friend i lost, my partner, my soulmate. you will also hear evidence _ soulmate. you will also hear evidence that dawn suffered from — evidence that dawn suffered from long—term dependence on alcohol— from long—term dependence on alcohol which limited her ability— alcohol which limited her ability to work and affected her personal life her family

recatted _ her personal life her family recalled that in the months and weeks — recalled that in the months and weeks before her death, dawn was showing signs of her improvement in health and well—being. as i said, she was settled — well—being. as i said, she was settled and happy in a romantic relationship. she was looking forward — relationship. she was looking forward to moving into her own flat forward to moving into her own fiat in _ forward to moving into her own flat in amesbury where she would — flat in amesbury where she would have been close to charlie _ would have been close to charlie. as to the immediate cause — charlie. as to the immediate cause and _ charlie. as to the immediate cause and mechanism of dawn sturgess's death, a professor who— sturgess's death, a professor who conducted the postmortem and who— who conducted the postmortem and who will be giving evidence to you. — and who will be giving evidence to you, recorded the cause of death— to you, recorded the cause of death as _ to you, recorded the cause of death as post—cardiac arrest hvpoxic_ death as post—cardiac arrest hypoxic brain injury and intracerebral haemorrhage, novichok toxicity. in layman's terms — novichok toxicity. in layman's terms and _ novichok toxicity. in layman's terms and adding a little detait, _ terms and adding a little detail, the poison caused dawn's_ detail, the poison caused dawn's never system to become overstimulated which lead to heart — overstimulated which lead to heart failure. that in turn caused _ heart failure. that in turn caused dawn's brain to be starved _ caused dawn's brain to be

starved of oxygen. as we will hear. — starved of oxygen. as we will hear, when paramedics arrived at the — hear, when paramedics arrived at the centre, they performed cpr and — at the centre, they performed cpr and managed to restart her heart _ cpr and managed to restart her heart she — cpr and managed to restart her heart she was taken to hospital and treated for several days. the — and treated for several days. the damage that had been done to a brain — the damage that had been done to a brain from the lack of oxygen— to a brain from the lack of oxygen in that initial period gradually developed and worsened over the days that dawn — worsened over the days that dawn was in hospital. in the end, _ dawn was in hospital. in the end. as _ dawn was in hospital. in the end, as professor explained it was the — end, as professor explained it was the brain injury that was the immediate cause of death. i turn to— the immediate cause of death. i turn to the — the immediate cause of death. i turn to the second issue, the narrative _ turn to the second issue, the narrative of broader factual circumstances.

in 2016, sergei skripal was living — in 2016, sergei skripal was living in— in 2016, sergei skripal was living in a quiet cul—de—sac in salisbury. _ living in a quiet cul—de—sac in salisbury, he was a man with an unusual— salisbury, he was a man with an unusual past, we will hear that sergei — unusual past, we will hear that sergei skripal had been born in russia — sergei skripal had been born in russia and had served first as a paratrooper in the russian army— a paratrooper in the russian army and _ a paratrooper in the russian army and latterly as a member of the — army and latterly as a member of the russian military intelligence. he was convicted intelligence. he was convicted in russia — intelligence. he was convicted in russia on espionage charges with allegations against him that he _ with allegations against him that he had spied for britain. he was— that he had spied for britain. he was subsequently was brought to the uk and a

prisoner— was brought to the uk and a prisoner exchange. we will hear that's— prisoner exchange. we will hear that's ok — prisoner exchange. we will hear that's ok has lived in salisbury since 2010, for most of that— salisbury since 2010, for most of that time in the house of christie _ of that time in the house of christie miller road. after his arrival— christie miller road. after his arrival in _ christie miller road. after his arrival in the uk, his wife, his— arrival in the uk, his wife, his son _ arrival in the uk, his wife, his son and daughter had left russia — his son and daughter had left russia to live that his wife and — russia to live that his wife and son— russia to live that his wife and son had subsequently done it and _ and son had subsequently done it and his — and son had subsequently done it and his daughter had gone to russia — it and his daughter had gone to russia. his daughter was in 2018. — russia. his daughter was in 2018, the day before the poisoning. we will hear about the events of that saturday took —

the events of that saturday took him to heathrow. to collect _ took him to heathrow. to collect julia. took him to heathrow. to collectjulia. we took him to heathrow. to collect julia. we will hear about _ collect julia. we will hear about sergi and juliet returning to the house in christie _ returning to the house in christie miller road from heathrow what they did that evening, and also of course about — evening, and also of course about the _ evening, and also of course about the events of that to drive — about the events of that to drive into the middle of salisbury in the early afternoon. at about 130. on sunday— afternoon. at about 130. on sunday the 4th of march. we will hear detailed evidence of of— we will hear detailed evidence of of exactly what they did. apologies once again for the problems we are having. the public inquiry that is under way to examine how dawn

sturgess a 44—year—old died after becoming unwell. it sturgess a 44-year-old died after becoming unwell. it seems to have caught _ after becoming unwell. it seems to have caught up _ after becoming unwell. it seems to have caught up with - after becoming unwell. it seems to have caught up with the - to have caught up with the audio _ to have caught up with the audio. towards the city centre at about— audio. towards the city centre at about 13 35. they then parked _ at about 13 35. they then parked on the roof of the sainsbury car park next to the shopping _ sainsbury car park next to the shopping centre. they walked through— shopping centre. they walked through the maltings and if we can have — through the maltings and if we can have please i and q through the maltings and if we can have please i and 0 00189 thank— can have please i and 0 00189 thank you. we see them stopping to feed _ thank you. we see them stopping to feed the ducks in the river on their— to feed the ducks in the river on their walk away from the car park _ on their walk away from the car park. they— on their walk away from the car park. they are in that box. thev— park. they are in that box. they then _ park. they are in that box. they then went to the bishop's pub arriving at 145 and we see here _ pub arriving at 145 and we see here since _ pub arriving at 145 and we see here since i q. pub arriving at 145 and we see

here since i 0. photo six. this photo — here since i 0. photo six. this photo shows two of them arriving _ photo shows two of them arriving. they stayed at the pub — arriving. they stayed at the pub for— arriving. they stayed at the pub for half an hour, leaving at 215 — pub for half an hour, leaving at 215 by— pub for half an hour, leaving at 215. by now, it was about 45 minutes — at 215. by now, it was about 45 minutes since they had touched the front— minutes since they had touched the front door handle as they left the — the front door handle as they left the house. survey appears to have — left the house. survey appears to have put his hands to his head — to have put his hands to his head as _ to have put his hands to his head as he left the pub. we can see that — head as he left the pub. we can see that in _ head as he left the pub. we can see that in this picture which is i see that in this picture which is i am — see that in this picture which is i am 0 _ see that in this picture which is i am 0 00581970. before he wasjoined by his daughter, outside _ wasjoined by his daughter, outside the pub, the same reference number as this photograph. thank you. that is right _ photograph. thank you. that is right. leaving the pub at 215 in the — right. leaving the pub at 215 in the afternoon. they then walked _ in the afternoon. they then walked the short distance to the zizi _ walked the short distance to the zizi restaurant in castle street _ the zizi restaurant in castle street where they had stayed for a — street where they had stayed for a little over an hour teaving _ for a little over an hour leaving at 335. it was now two

hours — leaving at 335. it was now two hours since they had touched the front _ hours since they had touched the front door handle and they walked — the front door handle and they walked back through the maltings as we can see in this photograph. we see here an enlarged version of that photograph. the two of them watking — photograph. the two of them walking through the maltings arm in — walking through the maltings arm in arm. walking through the maltings arm in arm-— arm in arm. can i understand these are _ arm in arm. can i understand these are as _ arm in arm. can i understand these are as it _ arm in arm. can i understand these are as it were - arm in arm. can i understand| these are as it were fortuitous photographs that happened to been registered on a cctv system?— been registered on a cctv s stem? , system? they were recovered from the event _ system? they were recovered from the event from - system? they were recovered from the event from the - system? they were recovered i from the event from the system. right~ _ from the event from the system. right~ two— from the event from the system. right. two minutes after the time — right. two minutes after the time of— right. two minutes after the time of the photograph that we are looking at sergi and julia sat down— are looking at sergi and julia sat down on a bench in the mattings— sat down on a bench in the maltings but in fact a way that they— maltings but in fact a way that they had — maltings but in fact a way that they had fed the ducks earlier white — they had fed the ducks earlier while walking. footer from

camera _ while walking. footer from camera 13, thank you. one can see in— camera 13, thank you. one can see inthe— camera 13, thank you. one can see in the photograph on the box that— see in the photograph on the box that is so gay and julia sitting _ box that is so gay and julia sitting on the bench shortly after— sitting on the bench shortly after 335 in the afternoon. it was — after 335 in the afternoon. it was stilt— after 335 in the afternoon. it was still there half an hour or so tater— was still there half an hour or so later when passing members of the _ so later when passing members of the public from whom we shatt— of the public from whom we shall get evidence realise that they were in distress. an ambulance was called and they were _ ambulance was called and they were given first aid. in addition to evidence from cctv such— addition to evidence from cctv such as — addition to evidence from cctv such as we've just been looking at, such as we've just been looking at. also — such as we've just been looking at, also the statements of passers—by, and the at, also the statements of passers�