We may never know the truth about the death of Alexander Litvinenko

An inquiry into the death of the Russian fugitive has finally opened. But those who say that justice delayed is justice denied have doubts that the truth will ever emerge, writes Mary Dejevsky

IT HAS taken more than eight years. But finally, at 10am yesterday, the doors to court 73 at London’s Royal Courts of Justice swung open; and Judge Robert Owen declared the start of a public inquiry into the 2006 death of Alexander Valterovich Litvinenko, a fugitive from Russia and newly-minted British citizen.

At the centre of proceedings is Marina Litvinenko, his wife for 12 years. In large measure, that these hearings are being held at all, and that they have been designated a public inquiry rather than an inquest, represents a personal victory for his widow.