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 inquiry into the death of Dawn Sturgess from novichok poisoning begins on 14 October 2024 in Salisbury. It will hear evidence there on 14-18 October, before further hearings in London between 28 October and 6 December 2024.

Jason Beer KC, Francesca Whitelaw KC, Georgina Wolfe, Aaron Moss, John Goss and Edmund Gross are all instructed in the Inquiry, which is being 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 agents 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 has been 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 involves scrutiny of some of the most sensitive aspects of the UK’s national security and counter-terrorism operations and investigations.

The hearings in Salisbury will involve opening statements and evidence from Dawn Sturgess’ family, as well as evidence from senior police officers from Counter-Terrorism Police and Wiltshire Police, and from ambulance personnel.

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.

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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

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