David Kelly friend pleads for review into his death

Doubts: no inquest was ever completed into Dr David Kelly's death
12 April 2012

A friend of Iraq weapons inspector David Kelly has written to the Attorney General calling for an independent review into his death, it was reported today.

US Air Force officer Mai Pedersen urged Dominic Grieve to look into the case after the Attorney General indicated that he was "concerned" about Dr Kelly's death in 2003.

No inquest was ever completed into the death of Dr Kelly, just days after he was identified as the source of stories questioning then prime minister Tony Blair's case for war in Iraq.

The Hutton Inquiry into his death found that he killed himself by swallowing 29 painkillers and slitting his left wrist.

Ms Pedersen, who worked with Dr Kelly in Iraq in the Nineties, challenged this finding in 2008, revealing that he had an injury to his right elbow which made it difficult for him to cut with a knife.

Shortly before his death, he was unable to cut a steak when having dinner with her, and he had a dislike for pills which made it unlikely he would have chosen that method of ending his life, Ms Pedersen said.

According to the Daily Mail, she wrote to Mr Grieve, saying: "We understand you have indicated a willingness to consider possibly re-opening the investigation into the continuing controversy into the death of Dr Kelly.

"Given the absence of any coroner's inquest and the perpetual secrecy surrounding the post-mortem examination, it is painfully obvious that this matter continues to cry out for a formal, independent and complete review.

"The passage of time (does) not diminish either the public's interest or the Government's responsibility to ascertain the full truth, whatever that might be."

The Attorney General's office was unable to confirm whether it had received a letter from Ms Pedersen.

A spokesman repeated an earlier statement, saying: "The Attorney remains concerned about this issue and is keen to explore how the matter might be taken forward with ministerial colleagues."

Mr Grieve has no power to order a new public inquiry, but could make an application to a coroner for an inquest if there is evidence to support it.

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