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Dominic Grieve makes statement to MPs saying evidence that David Kelly took his own life is ‘overwhelmingly strong’ A fresh inquest into the death of Dr David Kelly has been rejected by the attorney general, Dominic Grieve, after he concluded there was “overwhelmingly strong” evidence that the government weapons inspector took his own life. In a statement to MPs Grieve called for a line to be drawn under the matter as he criticised the “imaginative speculation” of those who have suggested in the eight years since Kelly’s death that he was murdered. Catherine McKinnell, the shadow solicitor general, immediately endorsed Grieve’s decision as she praised the “comprehensive nature” of his inquiry in which he asked independent experts to review evidence supplied by a group of doctors who questioned the cause of death. Grieve, who said there was no evidence to suggest a cover-up or a conspiracy in the death of Kelly, told MPs he had found no evidence to change the original conclusion of the Hutton inquiry, which confirmed the causes of death in the death certificate. The causes were, firstly, haemorrhage and incised wounds to the left wrist and, secondly, co-proxamol ingestion and coronary artery atherosclerosis. The attorney general told MPs: “Having given all the material that has been sent to me the most careful consideration, I have concluded that the evidence that Dr Kelly took his own life is overwhelmingly strong. Further, there is nothing I have seen that supports any allegation that Dr Kelly was murdered or that his death was the subject of any kind of conspiracy or cover-up. “In my view no purpose would be served by my making an application to the high court for an inquest. Indeed, I have no reasonable basis for doing so. There is no possibility that at an inquest a verdict other than suicide would be returned.” The attorney general dismissed those who have suggested that Kelly did not take his own life. He said: “The suggestion that Dr Kelly did not take his own life is not based on positive evidence as such but on a criticism of the findings of the investigation and inquiry. It began with the views of a number of doctors – undoubtedly expert in their own areas of practice but not qualified as forensic pathologists – that Dr Kelly could not have died from loss of blood from the wounds described.” As part of his investigations Grieve consulted Lord Hutton, the chairman of the original inquiry into the death of Kelly, whose body was found in woodland close to his Oxfordshire house on the morning of 18 July 2003. The attorney general also consulted Nicholas Gardiner, the Oxfordshire coroner whose inquest into Kelly’s death was transferred to the Hutton inquiry in August 2003, and Dr Nicholas Hunt, the pathologist who carried out the original postmortem investigation. Grieve said the doctors who questioned the cause of death did not have access to the material on which those conclusions had been reached. But he added: “Once such a doubt had been created those who believed Dr Kelly was murdered looked for contradictions in the evidence given to Lord Hutton, for matters that were apparently not followed up by the police and for any other issues that might be considered as suspicious.” Grieve dismissed those who read significance into the position in which Kelly’s body was found after all witnesses, bar two, gave evidence that he was found lying on his back. The two witnesses said his body was propped against a tree. The attorney general said that honest witnesses can recall the same scene differently. Grieve said: “From this minor contradiction came the view that the body must have been moved. If the body had been moved, why, by whom and for what purpose? “This issue has proven a fertile ground for imaginative speculation to take over. In fact, all of the evidence provided by the very careful forensic examination of the scene at the time – and the detailed review which, exceptionally, I have undertaken – supports the view that Dr Kelly died where he was found and from the causes determined. “There is no evidence I have seen that would suggest any other explanation or that suggests any cover up or conspiracy whatsoever.” Grieve extended his sympathy to the Kelly family for their loss and the continuing “intrusive publicity over such a long period of time”. He said: “They have borne that load with great fortitude and dignity. While I realise that it will always be impossible to satisfy everyone I would hope for their sakes that a line can now be drawn under this matter.” David Kelly Hutton report Iraq Dominic Grieve Nicholas Watt guardian.co.uk