British, Australian police confirm hoax-call inquiry

Radio station reviewing broadcast practices

12/10/2012

LONDON — British police have contacted Australian authorities about a possible investigation into a radio station’s hoax telephone call to a British hospital about the Duchess of Cambridge, they said Sunday, as the company that owns the station promised it is reviewing its broadcast practices.

The prank took a dark twist Friday with the death of nurse Jacintha Saldanha, a 46-year-old mother of two, three days after she unwittingly accepted the call about the health of Prince William’s pregnant wife, Kate.

The death has sparked an angry backlash from those who argue the Australian DJs who carried out the hoax should be held responsible.

The board of Southern Cross Austereo had an emergency meeting Sunday to discuss a harsh letter from the hospital that fell for the call.

King Edward VII’s Hospital, where the former Kate Middleton was being treated for acute morning sickness last week, condemned the “truly appalling” hoax and called the consequences “tragic beyond words.”

Max Moore-Wilton, the chairman of 2DayFM owner Southern Cross Austereo, said in a letter to the hospital’s chairman Sunday that the company will cooperate with any investigation.

“It is too early to know the full details leading to this tragic event, and we are anxious to review the results of any investigation that may be made available to us or made public,” he wrote. “I can assure you we are taking immediate action and reviewing the broadcast and processes involved.”

“As we have said in our own statements on the matter, the outcome was unforeseeable and very regrettable,” he wrote.

Australian police Sunday confirmed they had been contacted by London police and said they would cooperate.

The radio station callers impersonated Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles and received confidential details about the former Kate Middleton’s medical information. 

The call was recorded and broadcast.

Police have not yet determined Ms. Saldanha’s cause of death.

Both DJs involved apologized for the prank before Ms. Saldanha’s death. Their show has been suspended indefinitely and their Twitter accounts have been taken down after they were bombarded by thousands of abusive comments.