Preliminary hearing into Kelly death
The first formal steps in Lord Hutton’s inquiry into the death of weapons expert Dr David Kelly were being taken at Britain's Royal Courts of Justice today.
At a preliminary hearing, the law lord was setting out how he intended to conduct the probe and possibly outlining who he intends to call to give evidence.
He was also expected to hear calls from broadcasters for him to lift a ban on television cameras at everything but the opening and closing statements.
Media interest is huge, with journalists from all over the world expected in such high numbers that special facilities have been laid on to cope with demand.
After today’s opening remarks, the inquiry was due to be put on hold until after Dr Kelly’s funeral, which is taking place next Wednesday near his home in Oxfordshire, UK.
Lord Hutton’s terms of reference for the inquiry are limited to the circumstances surrounding the death of Dr Kelly.
The 59-year-old British government scientist bled to death after slitting his left wrist on a field a few miles away from his countryside home.
He committed suicide just over a week after being named as the British government mole behind a BBC report that Downing Street “sexed up” its dossier on Iraq’s banned weapons to strengthen the case for war, an allegation which the government denies.
According to his family, Dr Kelly’s outing as Andrew Gilligan’s possible source, which was confirmed by the BBC only after his death, combined with an intense grilling by British MPs on Britain's Foreign Affairs Committee, made life “intolerable” for the scientist.
The start of the inquiry also co-incided with a newspaper‘s publication of one piece of evidence that has been submitted the probe.
The Guardian said transcripts from a private grilling of Mr Gilligan by Britain's foreign affairs committee showed one MP accused him of “leading the public up the garden path in a most staggering way”.
Mr Gilligan was summoned for the second appearance after Dr Kelly told the committee he did not see how the report was based on what he had said.
The journalist was branded an “unsatisfactory witness” by chairman Donald Anderson and accused of changing his story about his dealings with Dr Kelly.
Mr Gilligan claimed he was deliberately “ambushed” by British Labour members.
Official publication of the material was put off following Dr Kelly’s death.
The Guardian reported that Tory former defence minister John Stanley called on the reporter to apologise for “I believe, grievously misleading the committee”.
But it said the transcript showed Mr Gilligan “holding his ground” over his claim Mr Campbell was responsible for transforming the dossier.
The BBC has always insisted that it expects the inquiry to clear its journalist.
Lord Hutton is expected to focus on the chain of events leading to Dr Kelly’s identification.
Britain's Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon and No 10’s director of communications, Alastair Campbell, are likely to be called to give evidence.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair has said he is prepared to cut short his family holiday to Cliff Richard’s mansion in Barbados – where he was due to arrive last night – to appear before the inquiry.
Mr Blair consistently refused to be drawn on questions about the death of Dr Kelly at his monthly press conference on Wednesday, insisting that it was a matter for the Hutton inquiry.
“I totally understand the very legitimate questions to be asked and answered but it should be done in the context of the inquiry,” he said.
“I think it is important that having announced the inquiry we let it take its course,” he told reporters.
