Pathologist supports inquest on David Kelly suicide

The pathologist who performed the autopsy on David Kelly said his death was a "textbook case" of suicide.

Nicholas Hunt said he found no signs of murder on the former weapons inspector after an eight-hour examination.

The Home Office scientist also said he was horrified at the way the Labour government treated Dr Kelly, 59, who was identified as the source of a BBC story claiming the government "sexed-up" its now notorious dossier on Iraq's supposed weapons of mass destruction.

Mr Hunt said he would welcome a full inquest into Dr Kelly's death, called for by campaigners who question the suicide verdict recorded in the controversial Hutton Inquiry.

He said: "I felt very, very sorry for David Kelly and the way he had been treated... I had every reason to look for something untoward and would dearly love to have found something.

"It was an absolute classic case of self-inflicted injury. You could illustrate a textbook with it.

"If it were anyone else and you were to suggest there's something foul about it, you would be referred for additional training. I would welcome an inquest, I've nothing to hide."

Dr Kelly's body was found near his Oxfordshire home in July 2003 a week after he was identified as the BBC source.

In the outcry that followed, Tony Blair appointed Lord Hutton to head a public inquiry into his death. The then Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer ruled it should also act as an inquest.

Lord Hutton concluded Dr Kelly took his own life and that the principal cause of death was "bleeding from incised wounds to his left wrist".

The government's most senior law officer, Dominic Grieve, last week indicated that he was prepared to intervene over the controversy to "give the public reassurance".