The Litvinenko Inquiry

their joint evidence about him, and, on the other hand, the evidence – to which I shall
come – suggesting that by the latter part of 2006 Mr Kovtun was both a successful
businessman and a cold blooded killer. This was a tension that both women recognised.
6.39 The following passages are taken from Inna Hohne’s evidence:
“Dmitry wanted to be a porno star. He never said anything about any brokerage
deals or sales. I have now read his interview in Spiegel and have read that there
was trade in gas and oil. I can only say that this has absolutely nothing to do with
Dmitry.” 17
“Dmitry is not particularly down to earth, more a man about town. He had all sorts
of dreams and plans, none of which he realised, however.” 18
“He drank a lot, which was eventually the reason for our separation. ... I only lived
together with him for a very short time. I do not know a great deal about him. I
cannot imagine how Dmitry got involved in this affair. He is not really the type for
this, not the sort of person who does big deals or is suited in any way to this. I know
Dmitry really as not a particularly reliable person. That is all I can say about this” 19
6.40 Marina Wall said the following:
“Every woman finds Dmitry charming. It is just he does not fancy working and he
is not a family man. He is more of a man about town. That is why we were not
suited...” 20
“I looked on the internet and found out Litvinenko is supposed to have been
poisoned with thallium. I then read that Litvinenko had met two businessmen in a
hotel. They are said to have been Lugovoy and Dmitry. My first thought was that I
found this ridiculous and absurd. When I read that an agent was involved and then
my husband, I could never imagine that. I mainly took care of our living expenses
and dealt with all financial matters. He didn’t even have an account.” 21
When asked whether Mr Kovtun was skilled technically, for example with regard to
computers, Marina Wall stated:
“I had to do everything. I had to set up the letters on the computer. He was not able
to do this. Dmitry was no handyman. He could not even bang a nail into the wall.
Finally, I would like to say that it is beyond my power of imagination that Dmitry is
an agent or a member of the secret service. I really cannot believe that for the life
of me.” 22
6.41 Following the discovery of radioactive contamination in her flat, Marina Wall was also
asked whether she could, “conceive that Dmitry brought any dangerous substances
into your flat”, and gave a very clear answer:
“I really cannot imagine that he would put my children in danger. I am more inclined
to believe that he was already ill himself or didn’t know that.” 23
17
Mascall 8/75
18
Mascall 8/76
19
Mascall 8/77
20
Marina Wall 32/58
21
Marina Wall 32/63
22
Marina Wall 32/75
23
Marina Wall 32/66-67
Part 6 | Chapters 1 to 8 | The polonium trail – events in October and November 2006
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