Radio hoax nurse found with 3 suicide notes

The nurse who was duped by a prank call from two Australian radio DJs to the hospital treating the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge was found in a room with three suicide notes, an inquest has heard.

Jacintha Saldanha, 46, a mother-of-two from Bristol, was found in her nurses’ quarters by a colleague and a security guard last Friday.

Two notes were found in her room and another was among her possessions, London’s Westminster Coroner’s Court was told.

Detective Chief Inspector James Harman said: “On Friday 7 December Jacintha Saldanha was found by a colleague and a member of security staff ... The London Ambulance Service was called to the scene. At this time there are no suspicious circumstances.”

Detectives are also looking into telephone calls and emails to see if they throw any light on the death, Mr Harman said.

He told the coroner, Dr Fiona Wilcox, that Scotland Yard detectives would be in contact with their colleagues in Australia to interview witnesses to “put the best evidence before you” about the circumstances of the death.

He said: “I can expect in the very near future to be in contact with colleagues in New South Wales.”

The court heard the body of Indian-born Ms Saldanha had been visually identified by her accountant husband Benedict Barboza.

None of Ms Saldanha’s heartbroken relatives were present in court for the five-minute hearing.

A provisional date of Mar 26 was set for the next hearing.

Ms Saldanha had been fooled by the two DJs into believing they were the Queen and Prince of Wales during the prank call to the King Edward VII’s Hospital in London.

She had unwittingly transferred the call from the Sydney-based station 2Day FM to a colleague, who described in detail Kate Middleton’s condition, who was being treated at the time for pregnancy sickness.