BackDJ Mel Greig to appear at Jacintha Saldanha’s inquest
Greig’s statement came a day after The Sunday Times reported that Saldanha blamed the two DJs for her death
Premium(AFP)
Melbourne: One of the two Australian radio DJs involved in a prank phone call to a British hospital treating pregnant Kate Middleton will appear at the inquest of the India-born nurse who was found hanged in London. DJ Mel Greig will appear at British inquest of 46-year-old Jacintha Saldanha later this year. Greig’s announcement came a day after The Sunday Times on Sunday reported that Saldanha left a hand-written note blaming the two DJs for her death.
“She (Greig) had already applied to appear at the inquest last week," a spokesman for Greig was quoted as saying by The Age newspaper. The spokesmen, however, said the timing of her announcement was confidential.
Greig is yet to decide if she will attend the inquest in person or give her comments and answer questions via a video link. Saldanha, who was on the hospital switchboard where Kate was being treated for morning sickness last December and forwarded the hoax call to the Duchess of Cambridge’s ward, has asked her bosses in the hand-written note to make the presenters pay her mortgage.
“Please accept my apologies. I am truly sorry. Thank you for all your support. I hold the Radio Australians Mel Greig and Michael Christian responsible for this act. Please make them pay my mortgage. I am sorry. Jacintha," The Sunday Times quoted one of her notes.
Saldanha had been found hanged with a scarf from her wardrobe in staff accommodation near the hospital, three days after the hoax call in December 2012. She also had marks on her wrist and an initial inquest hearing had found no suspicious circumstances into her death. In the statement issued today, Greig’s lawyers said that Saldanha’s suicide was a devastating tragedy and Greig’s thoughts have been with the family ever since.
“Greig fully understands their need for answers, which is why she has taken this step to appear as an individual at the inquest. “She is determined to address any questions surrounding her role in these tragic events as part of the inquest... Greig wants the family to know she will answer any questions the coroner or the family’s lawyers may have at the inquest." Greg Baxter, a spokesman for 2Day FM parent company Southern Cross Austereo, said Christian had opted not to make an individual statement to the inquest.
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