Alexander Litvinenko coroner to hold closed hearing on evidence

A coroner is to hold a private hearing to decide if an inquest into the death of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko should hear secret evidence from the intelligence services.

Lawyers for the dissident’s widow, Marina, will be excluded from the special session.

It will examine evidence thought to detail Mr Litvinenko’s activities as an agent for MI6. Deputy Assistant Coroner Sir Robert Owen, sitting at the High Court, ruled out the appointment of special advocates who would enable Mrs Litvinenko to be represented.

Foreign Secretary William Hague has signed a public interest immunity certificate to stop some information being placed in open court. The coroner will now decide what documents should be made public. Mr Litvinenko, 43, was poisoned by radioactive polonium–210 in London in 2006.