Australian DJ to give evidence at royal hoax call inquest

USPA News - An Australian DJ who participated in a hoax call to a London hospital where Prince William`s pregnant wife Kate was being treated will give evidence at an inquest into the death of a nurse who hanged herself after taking the call, the presenter`s lawyers said Monday. Australian law firm Slater & Gordon said Mel Greig had applied for and was granted permission to appear as an individual at the upcoming inquest into the death of 46-year-old British nurse Jacintha Saldanha.

It was not immediately clear whether the presenter would appear in person or by videolink. Greig and Michael Christian, presenters at 2Day FM in Sydney, placed a hoax call to King Edward VII Hospital during the early hours of December 4. They posed as Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles in the hopes of being transferred to Prince William`s pregnant wife Kate, but they were instead transferred to a nurse who provided confidential details about her condition. Saldanha, who took the call and transferred it, was found dead from an apparent suicide in staff accommodation near the hospital on December 7. It is believed the hoax call had confused and agitated Saldanha, who reportedly left three suicide notes in which she blamed Greig and Christian for her death. "Ms Saldanha`s suicide was a devastating tragedy and Ms Greig`s thoughts have been with the family ever since. Ms Greig fully understands their need for answers, which is why she has taken this step to appear as an individual at the inquest," the law firm said in a statement on Monday, adding that Greig is "determined" to address any questions surrounding her role. In February, UK`s Crown Prosecution Service said it had decided not to bring charges against Greig and Christian over the hoax call. Prosecutors said that while offenses may have been committed under the Data Protection Act 1998, the Malicious Communications Act 1988 and the Communications Act 2003, it would not be possible to extradite the DJs for such offenses.