Indian Nurse Who Committed Suicide Over Kate Middleton Prank Phone Call Blames Aussie DJs, Asks Them to Pay Her Mortgage
Four months after the regrettable incident happened, the hoax royal phone call made by Radio Australia DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian continues to hound them for the death of Indian-born nurse Jacintha Saldanha.
Over the weekend, reports came out that Ms Saldanha left three handwritten letters addressed to her managers at the King Edward VII Hospital in London, apologising for releasing without authorisation information about the medical condition of Kate Middleton who was confined at the hospital for acute morning sickness.
The nurse fell for the prank call of the two Aussie DJs who pretended to be Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles asking about the condition of the pregnant princess, which she passed on to a colleague who provided the DJs the confidential information. When she realised her error, Ms Saldanha, 46, hanged herself with a scarf from her wardrobe at her room in staff accommodation near the hospital.
"I hold the Radio Australians Mel Greig and Michael Christian responsible for this act. Please make them pay my mortgage. I am sorry," NDTV quoted the nurse's handwritten note.
The second letter released the other nurse for the distress that resulted from the hoax phone call while the third one had instructions for her funeral in India.
The inquest for the trial on the two DJs is schedule to resume on Thursday, following the grant by a court of a request by the radio station to defend itself at the inquest into the nurse's death to give the station the chance to examine witnesses.
The two DJs have apologised for the unexpected result of their prank call while Southern Cross Austero, owner of the Sydney-based radio station, pledged to contribute A$500,000 as trust fund for the nurse's family.
Ms Saldanha left behind two children, 17-year-old Junal and 14-year-old Lisha, and her husband, 49-year-old Benedict Barboza, a hospital accountant. She studied nursing in Mangalore, India and migrated to Britain 10 years ago.
There are reports that she was taking anti-depressants and was confined before in India for depression, but her husband said her depression was caused by the hoax phone call.
The hospital said Ms Saldanha was an outstanding employee and vowed to assist the coroner in establishing the full facts of the case.