Hoax call nurse Jacintha Saldanha left three detailed notes before her death, a court heard. In one of the letters addressed to her husband Ben Barboza, 49, and their children Junal, 17, and Lisha 14, Jacintha criticised fellow staff at the King Edward VII hospital where she worked. Another directly refers to the 2Day FM prank in which Australian DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian posed as Prince Charles and the Queen to gain information about the pregnant Kate Middleton, who was being treated for morning sickness at the facility. A third and final missive outlines details and preparations for her funeral.
According to police, two of the notes were found at the scene of Jacintha's death, while the other was uncovered between her personal belongings. The development comes after Home Office pathologists carried out a post-mortem on the tragic employee to determine the exact cause of her death. The inquest heard that she had been found hanging in her hospital residence and had also sustained injuries to her wrists.
The hearing told how paramedics who rushed to the scene made several attempts to revive the mum-of-two. Addressing the court, Det Chief Insp James Harman said: "At this time there are no suspicious circumstances apparent to me in relation to this death," Detective Harman also suggested the 2 Day FM station responsible for the prank call could be subject to further investigation, adding: "You will be aware of the wider circumstances in this case and I can expect in the very near future we will be in contact with colleagues in New South Wales to establish the best means of putting the evidence before you." On Thursday, Australian media's governing body also revealed they will be following up with their own enquiry. Chris Chapman, the chairman of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), said the investigation would not focus on the presenters who staged the prank, Mel Greig and Michael Christian.
Jacintha put their call through to the ward at King Edward VII hospital where pregnant Kate was being looked after for severe morning sickness, and another nurse, thinking she was really talking to the monarch and the Prince of Wales, gave out personal medical information concerning the royal, who has since been released and is currently resting at Kensington Palace as she recovers from hyperemesis gravidarum. After the incident, St James's Palace released a statement on behalf of William and Kate which said they were "deeply saddened" by the news of the nurse's death, adding: "Their Royal Highnesses were looked after so wonderfully well at all times by everybody at King Edward VII Hospital, and their thoughts and prayers are with Jacintha Saldanha’s family, friends and colleagues at this very sad time." The hospital has now set up a private memorial fund to help support the late nurse's relatives, who made a private visit to the facility on Monday before meeting with MP Keith Vaz at Parliament. The politician said Jacintha's husband Benedict Barboza and her two teenage children had been left "devastated" by the loss of "a loving mother and a loving wife". He added: "They just want me to say that they are extremely grateful to the public here in the United Kingdom and throughout the world who have sent them messages of condolences and support following the death of Jacintha."
