Jason Beer KC, Francesca Whitelaw KC, Georgina Wolfe, Aaron Moss, John Goss and Edmund Gross appear in the Inquiry into the death of Dawn Sturgess

The public hearings in the independent inquiry into the death of Dawn Sturgess from novichok poisoning concluded on Monday 2 December. The inquiry heard evidence and submissions over seven weeks starting on 14 October, in both Salisbury and London.

Jason Beer KC, Francesca Whitelaw KC, Georgina Wolfe, Aaron Moss, John Goss and Edmund Gross are all instructed in the Inquiry, which is chaired by the Rt Hon Lord Hughes of Ombersley, a former Justice of the Supreme Court.

Dawn Sturgess’ death in July 2018 was due to contamination by novichok, a chemical weapon. It followed an earlier attempt in March 2018 to use novichok to murder Sergei Skripal in Salisbury. The use of novichok in the UK caused a major international incident, leading to 153 Russian diplomats being expelled from 28 different countries. Three individuals who are believed to be officers of Russia’s military intelligence service, the GRU, have been charged with serious criminal offences, but remain in Russia which refuses to extradite them.

The Inquiry was set up to examine how Dawn Sturgess came by her death and to ascertain where responsibility for the death lies, including exploring questions of Russian state responsibility. This involved scrutiny of some of the most sensitive aspects of the UK’s national security and counter-terrorism operations and investigations, including in closed hearings. The Inquiry’s report is likely to follow in 2025.

Members of Chambers are instructed in the Inquiry as follows:

• Francesca Whitelaw KC is instructed as Counsel to the Inquiry;
• Jason Beer KC and John Goss are instructed by Counter Terrorism Policing South-East;
• Georgina Wolfe is instructed for the Secretary of State for the Home Department, who is representing His Majesty’s Government generally;
• Aaron Moss and Edmund Gross are instructed by the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command.

5 Essex Chambers is a specialist set for public inquiries and inquests, including those involving national security, terrorism, and policing. Members of chambers have appeared in all the significant national security inquests and inquiries in recent years, including the Afghanistan Inquiry, the Omagh Bombing Inquiry, the Jalal Uddin Inquiry, the Forbury Gardens Inquests, the Streatham Inquest, the Fishmongers’ Hall Inquests and the Manchester Arena Inquiry.

---

Related barristers

Jason Beer KC

Call 1992 | Silk 2011

Francesca Whitelaw KC

Call 2003 | Silk 2023

Georgina Wolfe

Call 2006

Aaron Moss

Call 2013

John Goss

Call 2015

Edmund Gross

Call 2016

Related areas

Public Inquiries

---