Scotland Yard in move to talk to DJs over Kate-hoax nurse death

Crisis talks are under way at the company that owns 2Day FM, whose presenters Mel Greig and Michael Christian duped Jacintha Saldanha into helping reveal details about the Duchess of Cambridge’s health.

Ms Saldanha, 46, apparently took her own life following the incident.

Scotland Yard is understood to have asked police in Sydney for assistance, with a view to interviewing the two DJs ahead of an inquest into Ms Saldanha’s death. A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: “Officers have been in contact with Australian authorities.”

Nick Kaldas, deputy commissioner for New South Wales Police, confirmed the request, telling Sky: “It hasn’t been indicated to us that an offence has occurred and they have not actually asked for anything yet.

“They’ve simply touched base, let us know of their interest and they will get back to us if they actually want something done. Nothing has been requested of us yet.”

A post-mortem examination is due to be held this week and an inquest opened and adjourned, Scotland Yard said. The death is not being treated as suspicious.

Southern Cross Austereo, 2Day FM’s parent company, is holding an emergency board meeting to consider what action it should take over the prank phone call, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Chairman Max Moore-Wilton said the board is considering its response to a letter from Lord Glenarthur, chairman of the Edward VII’s hospital, in which he called for the “truly appalling” broadcast to “never be repeated”.

Mr Moore-Wilton said: “We’re considering that letter and I’ll be responding to them after I discuss it with my board colleagues.”

Ms Greig and Mr Christian have so far not commented after the incident, and are receiving “intensive psychological counselling” to deal with the tragedy, The Australian said.

The pair are on indefinite leave and have been bombarded with abusive and threatening messages on social media websites.

A spokeswoman for Austereo told The Australian the pair would be speaking with the media, but when would depend on their state of mind, which was described as “fragile”.

Austereo chief executive Rhys Holleran said there were real fears for the pair following the tragedy and ensuing backlash.

“Everyone who knows Mel fears for her mental state,” The Sunday Times reported him as saying. “There are very real fears she could self-harm, and nobody wants that.”

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), which regulates radio broadcasting, confirmed it had received complaints from all around the world, and said it was considering whether it should launch an investigation into whether the presenters breached the Commercial Radio Code of Practice.

Ms Saldanha was pronounced dead on Friday at staff accommodation close to the hospital.

Her devastated family were being comforted by relatives and friends at their terrace home in Southmead, Bristol.

A friend at the address said Ms Saldanha’s partner, Benedict Barboza, 49, and their son and daughter, aged 14 and 16, were “very, very shocked and unhappy at the tragedy”.

In a statement on Saturday night, Ms Saldanha’s family said they were “deeply saddened” by the death and asked for privacy.

They said: “We as a family are deeply saddened by the loss of our beloved Jacintha. We would ask that the media respect our privacy at this difficult time.”

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have sent their condolences to Ms Saldanha’s family.