Leader: Inquest into Kelly's death would put doubts to rest

DAVID Kelly, a government scientist, was found dead after being exposed as the source of reports that cast doubts on the government's central claim at the time that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.

A subsequent lengthy public inquiry by Lord Hutton concluded that he took his own life. It also triggered a major row within the BBC and the resignations of chief executive Greg Dyke and chairman Gavyn Davies, a former economic adviser to the British government. This inquiry took precedence over an inquest that was suspended when the inquiry began. A group of doctors have since queried the suicide conclusion as unsafe.

Yesterday, Dominic Grieve, the Attorney General, said the evidence that Dr Kelly killed himself was "overwhelming", and said he could find no legal basis for referring the case to the High Court, which has the legal authority to order an inquest.

There are several highly significant aspects about this case which continue to trouble many. First, this was the mysterious death of a government scientist in the most unusual circumstances. Second, he was involved in the leaking of information which put major question marks over the government's case for taking Britain into war. And third, an inquest in which witnesses are questioned under oath, is a due process of law. Given the challenge by doctors to the findings of the Hutton Inquiry, an inquest would surely enable continuing public doubts to be put at rest. The Attorney General had cause to defend the system of due process more rigorously than he has done.