Southern Cross at hoax inquest

A student of a nursing college places a candle in front of a picture depicting nurse Jacintha Saldanha, during a candle-lit vigil organized by a local politician in Bangalore, India. An inquest into the apparent suicide of Saldanha, who was duped by a hoax call from Australian DJs about the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge, heard she had left three notes. AP /Aijaz Rahi Source: AP

THE radio broadcaster involved in the royal hoax call that tricked a nurse days before she took her own life will be a party to her inquest amid accusations the prank contributed to her death.

Mother of two Jacintha Saldanha was found hanged in her apartment in the nurses' quarters in central London last December, three days after unwittingly putting 2Day-FM DJ's posing as royal family members through to the hospital ward where the Duchess of Cambridge was recovering from severe morning sickness.

Yesterday at the reopening of the inquest at Westminster's Coroner's Court, Southern Cross Media applied to be a party to proceedings with the media group's lawyer Maya Sikand saying the hoax may have had "perceived consequences".

Ms Sikand said her clients had apologised for the "unforeseen and totally unintended consequences" of their actions and subsequent death but she was "dancing in the dark" in terms of how their involvement will materialise and likely witnesses to be called but recognised there was great public anger at her clients for the tragedy.

She also said it could be Southern Cross could assist in recommendations for future in terms of "lessons learnt".

Their inclusion into the proceedings, which will start proper on May 2 and is set down for two days, were granted.

The 46-year-old Ms Saldanha's husband Benedict Barboza, 49 and their children Junal, 16 and 14-year-old Lisha were present in court.

Their legal representative John Cooper QC did not object to Southern Cross being party to the hearing since he said the radio station had claimed it had contacted the hospital "four or five times" to seek permission to broadcast the hoax but the hospital had been adamant that no call was received.

He said those facts were likely to be in dispute.

Mr Cooper also asked whether Ms Sikand would be representing the two DJs behind the hoax Mel Greig and Michael Christian, who posed as the Queen and Prince Charles when they rang the King Edward Hospital.

Mr Cooper also indicated he would be asking how it was Ms Saldanha came to be working effectively as a receptionist and whether that was in her contract

Coroner Dr Fiona Wilcox abruptly adjourned the hearing for the two lawyers and two others representing the hospital and the police service to meet immediately in her chambers for a discussion.

After proceedings continued sometime later, Dr Wilcox said there would be four witnesses including the duty nurse, whose name is suppressed, and the hospital's boss John Lofthouse.

She also indicated her hearing would not be a "court of adversity" but a court of inquiry to allow a cause of death to be recorded and not other issues.

Outside court, family spokesman Keith Vaz said the inquest would mark the beginning of the end of the case.

He said the family was still suffering from the loss of their beloved mother and wife and the weeks before the inquest would be hard, not least of all because the two children had crucial exams to prepare for.

He said last Sunday would have been Ms Saldanha's 47th birthday.

He said the family specifically wanted him to thank the police for their thorough investigation and the media for respecting their privacy in this difficult time.

The duchess' hospitalisation with acute morning sickness last December made headlines around the world with details of how husband Prince William rushed her to hospital after a weekend away with her parents when she could not stop throwing up.

The dash to King Edward VII Hospital then forced the palace to prematurely reveal the duchess was pregnant.

Jacintha Saldanha's family arrive at Westminster Coroners Court for the inquest into her death. Picture: Charles Miranda

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