New royal hoax phone records twist

A student of a nursing college places a candle in front of a picture depicting nurse Jacintha Saldanha, during a candle-lit vigil. Picture: AP Source: AP

THE London nurse who took her own life after being pranked by Austereo for royal baby news is believed to have kept secret more phone calls from the radio network in the days before her suicide.

While details of the hoax call made to Saldanha in December 2012 made headline news around the world in the wake of her death and outrage over the hoax, it has emerged the Australian radio network has confirmed a number of follow up calls were made by the 2DayFM show responsible for the controversial prank.

The station says the calls were to ask permission to air the call.

A London Sunday Times investigation has claimed Southern Cross Austereo will present phone record evidence of four calls to the hospital, which previously denied it had been contacted for permission to air a controversial stunt, where DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian were given details on the condition of a newly pregnant Duchess of Cambridge after pretending to be Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles.

Michael Christian and Mel Greig interviewed on national television after the prank call. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

An inquest into Ms Saldanha's suicide death is scheduled for September 12 and 13 where at least one of the presenters, Greig, has committed to testifying about her role in the prank.

The hospital had held that there had been no further calls beyond the recorded material put to air by 2DayFM of another hospital staffer revealing private details on the morning sick princess.

But phone records may now allow for the possibility the 46-year-old nurse had received the calls but was too embarrassed to report them.

Mel Greig (R) and Michael Christian (L) leaving the 2Day FM radio office in Sydney's World Square. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

A 2DayFM spokesman said "we can confirm that four follow up calls were made to seek permission to air the call within an hour of the (prank) being made. Telstra has verified the calls coming from our Sydney studio and all being received at the same number in London (at the King Edward VII's hospital where Saldanha was night sister in charge).

"Because the calls were placed overseas, there was some debate about whether permission was needed. After the fourth call, we were advised internally we didn't need permission because (Saldanha) was not a resident of Australia."

Husband of late Jacintha Saldanha, Benedict Barboza, reacts as he and his son Junal, 16, left and daughter Lisha, 14, speak to the media. Picture: AP Source: AP

The newspaper report suggested this may have added to her distress and ultimately triggered her decision to hang herself in her nurses' accommodation quarters three days later.

"One of the calls was ended abruptly, but three others were long enough to have been a conversation. They were not made by the DJs, but members of the `Hot 30' show's production team.''

The additional calls were not recorded but the phone log confirms the destination number and the duration of the calls.

The Times said it is "highly likely the calls were answered by Jacintha and that she never disclosed these calls to another person before she hanged herself."

Ms Saldanha left behind three suicide notes and while two were left to her family, the third clearly implicates the two radio presenters, stating: "I hold the Radio Australians Mel Greig and Michael Christian responsible for their act. Please make them pay my mortgage. I am sorry, Jacintha."

The Times investigation also revealed details of Saldanha as a deeply troubled woman who had attempted suicide in late 2011 and may have again in early 2012.

After being diagnosed with a depressive disorder, she was referred to psychiatrist "in view of suicidal risk."

When she was discharged three days later, a doctor's note in her file read: "there is a risk of deliberate self-harm and the need for 24-hour supervision."

In the wake of Ms Saldanha's death and the scandal, Greig has been battling her own anguish and is also taking legal action against her employers.

###

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

New royal hoax phone records twist

Dengan url

https://budayacreatip.blogspot.com/2013/09/new-royal-hoax-phone-records-twist.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

New royal hoax phone records twist

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

New royal hoax phone records twist

sebagai sumbernya