Operational Note regarding a Directions Hearing on 20 January 2015

THE
LITVINENKO
INQUIRY
15 January 2015
OPERATIONAL NOTE
A Directions Hearing
Date:
Tuesday, 20 January 2015
Start time:
10:30am
Finish:
Expected by midday.
Location:
The hearing will take place in Court 73,
Royal Courts of Justice (RCJ), Strand, London WC2A 2LL
Sir Robert Owen, Chairman of the Litvinenko Inquiry, will hold a Directions Hearing on 20 January
2015.
The agenda for the Hearing is as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Update on disclosure;
Update on Hearing Schedule;
Document references;
Procedure for adducing documentary evidence;
Security Measures Protocol; and
AOB
NOTES
Media
1. Journalists and media representatives wishing to attend the hearing should email Mike Wicksteed the
Inquiry’s communications officer ([email protected]). Those attending
must present valid identification on arrival. Without prior notice of attendance and/or appropriate
personal identification (media organisation staff pass/ NUJ card) entry on the day may be refused.
2. Sir Robert Owen will not give media interviews.
3. Transcripts of the proceedings will be posted up on the website on the day of the hearing.
1
Inquiry Terms of Reference
4. The Terms of Reference for the Inquiry are:
1.
Subject to paragraphs 2 and 3 below, the Chairman is to conduct an investigation into the
death of Alexander Litvinenko in order to:
(i) ascertain, in accordance with s.5(1) of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, who the
deceased was; how, when and where he came by his death; and the particulars (if any)
required by the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 to be registered concerning the death;
(ii) identify, so far as is consistent with s.2 of the Inquiries Act 2005, where responsibility
for the death lies; and
(iii) make such recommendations as may seem appropriate.
2.
The investigation is to take into account the investigations which have already been conducted
by the Assistant Coroner for Inner North London [Sir Robert Owen].
3.
In the light of the Assistant Coroner’s views, expressed in his ruling of 17 May 2013, that
there is no material within the relevant documents to suggest that, at any material time,
Alexander Litvinenko was or ought to have been assessed as being at a real and immediate
threat to his life, the inquiry will not address the question of whether the UK authorities could
or should have taken steps which would have prevented the death.
Core Participants
5.
The core participants are:
(1) Marina & Anatoly Litvinenko;
(2) the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis;
(3) the Secretary of State for the Home Department; and
(4) the Atomic Weapons Establishment.
In the Hearing Room
6. Media seating will be available in Court 73. Those attending the hearing should note that the Royal
Courts of Justice (RCJ) conduct security checks and maintain the following restrictions:
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Camera and recording equipment are strictly prohibited and should not be brought into the RCJ.
Mobile phones and Blackberry devices must be switched off or put on silent.
Telephone calls are not permitted in the hearing room when the Inquiry is in session. Telephone
calls may be made in the hearing room during breaks in proceedings but must conclude before
the hearing resumes.
Live text-based media is allowed in the Inquiry hearing room and public areas of the RCJ.
However, they must not cause a disturbance or distraction to proceedings and are subject to the
Chairman’s right to remove that privilege if he believes it is harming the administration of
justice.
Laptops may be used in the Inquiry hearing room and public areas if they do not disturb others
but they may not be used to make live recordings of proceedings.
Personal entertainment devices such as MP3 players and iPods may not be used in the hearing
room when the Inquiry is in session.
The Inquiry’s Secretariat reserves the right to eject (and if necessary to review the accreditation
of) individuals who fail to comply with these conditions.
For further information please contact the Inquiry’s communications officer, Mike Wicksteed.
Email: [email protected] (recommended)
Tel:
07880-079671 (NB: Mike lives in a mobile 'signal free' area - best to email him if you wish to
talk and he'll ring back)
Website: www.litvinenkoinquiry.org
ENDS
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