Public inquiry into Novichok poisoning death of Dawn Sturgess announced

An ongoing investigation into the death of Dawn Sturgess will be upgraded to a public inquiry. Sturgess died in 2018 after coming into contact with a Novichok nerve agent on a fake perfume bottle. The public inquiry will allow judges to examine more evidence, including sensitive material relating to any involvement of the Russian state.

Novichok agents are a class of chemical weapons that is absorbed through the skin. Unlike sarin and some other volatile nerve agents, Novichok are highly persistent. They disrupt the body’s nervous system by binding to acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. This means the neurotransmitter builds up, which can lead to convulsions, paralysis and respiratory arrest.