The Litvinenko Inquiry

in which polonium 210 was administered to his body, how such administration occurred,
and all relevant wider circumstances. These criteria for disclosure were deliberately
widely drawn, because on the material that he had to date, there was no proper basis
to exclude from the disclosure exercise any of the competing theories advanced by
different interested persons.
17. The Coroner listed those whom he considered at that time to be properly interested
persons under the Coroners Rules 1984, namely:
a. Marina Litvinenko and her son Anatoly
b. Mr Litvinenko’s children by a previous marriage
c. Mr Lugovoy
d. Mr Kovtun
e. The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as the Chief Officer of Police
f. Boris Berezovsky
Appendix 1 | The history of the Inquiry and procedures adopted
18. Finally, the Coroner indicated that he recognised powerful arguments in favour of
appointing a more senior member of the judiciary to conduct the inquest. However,
the decision to make such an appointment was ultimately a matter for the Lord
Chancellor and Lord Chief Justice and the decision would to a degree be contingent
on the product of disclosure.
19. In early January 2012, Lee Hughes was appointed Secretary to the inquest.
20. On 16 February 2012, the Deputy Coroner (Dr Shirley Radcliffe) wrote to the Secretary
of State for Justice requesting the nomination of a senior member of the judiciary to
conduct the inquest.
21. On 29 February 2012, the Secretary of State confirmed that, in principle, a senior
member of the judiciary should be so appointed.
22. On 3 August 2012, the Secretary of State formally confirmed my nomination by the
Lord Chief Justice to act as Deputy Assistant Coroner to conduct the inquest.
23. On 7 August 2012, the Deputy Coroner accordingly appointed me as Deputy Assistant
Coroner.
24. On 20 September 2012, I conducted a pre-inquest hearing, the transcript of which is
available on the Inquiry website. The primary aim of the hearing was to give a public
update in respect of procedural matters. At that hearing, the Secretary of State for the
Home Department applied for interested person status. This was granted.
25. On 2 November 2012, I conducted a further pre-inquest hearing, the transcript of this
hearing is also available on the Inquiry website. This hearing was intended to give
a further public update in respect of procedural matters, and also to ensure that the
next pre-inquest hearing could effectively and efficiently deal with the substantive
legal matters with which it was to be concerned. These issues were listed in written
directions given following the hearing.
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