In a stunning revelation at the Salisbury poisoning inquiry, two senior police officers have issued formal apologies to the family of Dawn Sturgess for falsely describing her as a known drug addict while she battled for her life in the hospital. The 44-year-old mother of three tragically died on July 8, 2018, after being exposed to the deadly novichok nerve agent, which was left in a discarded perfume bottle in nearby Amesbury.
Police Officers’ Shocking Misconduct
The inquiry heard disturbing evidence of the officers’ misconduct, including an email from temporary superintendent Kerry Lawes, who was a detective sergeant at the time, to the coroner. In the email, Lawes callously referred to Sturgess and her partner, Charlie Rowley, as “two well-known drug addicts,” despite a lack of intelligence to support such a claim.
Lawes went on to make the outrageous assertion that the incident was “still an OD [overdose]” and that there was “no suggestion of any third-party involvement.” She even accused the fire and ambulance crews who responded to the scene of having “panicked somewhat” by concluding that Sturgess’s condition was the result of nerve agent poisoning.
Belated Apologies and Admissions of Wrongdoing
In written evidence read to the inquiry, Lawes offered a belated apology, acknowledging that there was no intelligence to support the contention that Sturgess was a drug user or addict. She admitted that her comments were “unprofessional” and expressed remorse for any distress caused to Sturgess’s family and friends.
Another officer, DS Eirin Martin, was also found to have referred to Sturgess and Rowley as “well-known local heroin users” in an email sent on July 2. When challenged about her statement, Martin claimed that while Rowley was known to her as a heroin user and dealer, Sturgess was not known to her at that point. She conceded that the information suggesting Sturgess was a heroin user was inaccurate and apologized for her actions.
Failure to Warn the Public
The inquiry also questioned Martin’s decision to authorize a police press release on July 2, in which she was quoted as saying, “We believe that two patients have fallen after using from a contaminated batch of drugs possibly heroin or crack cocaine.” When asked why she had not warned the public about the possibility that Sturgess may have ingested a nerve agent, Martin claimed that they were trying to avoid causing panic or concern.
Medical Professionals’ Assessments
Dr. Stephen Jukes, a consultant who treated Sturgess and had previously treated Sergei and Yulia Skripal, was asked if his assessment of Sturgess’s condition would have changed had he been informed that there was no intelligence to suggest she was a drug user. While he initially stated that new information could have tipped the balance, he later clarified that he was treating her based on her symptoms and that the additional information would not have altered their approach at that time.
According to Jukes, his colleague Dr. Paul Russell, who had experience in the field, believed it was “highly unlikely that a chemical weapon was involved” and advised that decontamination measures were unnecessary.
The Tragic Aftermath
The Salisbury poisoning case, which began with the attempted murders of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in March 2018, took a deadly turn when Dawn Sturgess and her partner, Charlie Rowley, were exposed to novichok four months later. Rowley had unwittingly given Sturgess a discarded perfume bottle containing the nerve agent, believing it to be a genuine fragrance.
While Rowley and the Skripals survived the ordeal, Sturgess tragically succumbed to the poisoning on July 8, 2018. Her untimely death sent shockwaves through the community and raised serious questions about the handling of the case by local authorities.
Seeking Justice and Accountability
As the Salisbury poisoning inquiry continues, the revelations of police misconduct and false accusations have only deepened the pain and anguish felt by Dawn Sturgess’s family and loved ones. The belated apologies offered by the officers involved do little to ease the suffering caused by their reckless and insensitive actions.
The inquiry serves as a stark reminder of the importance of thorough, unbiased investigations and the need for accountability at all levels of law enforcement. The tragic loss of Dawn Sturgess and the inexcusable treatment of her character in the aftermath of the poisoning demand nothing less than a full reckoning and a commitment to justice.
As the inquiry progresses, the public eagerly awaits the truth behind the Salisbury novichok attack and the steps that will be taken to ensure such a devastating incident never happens again. The memory of Dawn Sturgess and the suffering endured by all those affected by this heinous act will forever serve as a solemn reminder of the importance of vigilance, compassion, and the relentless pursuit of justice in the face of unspeakable tragedy.
