David Christopher Kelly, microbiologist, born May 17 1944, Rhondda Valley, Wales, died July 18 2003, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England.
Dr Kelly was the Ministry of Defence's chief scientific officer, and senior adviser on biological weapons to the UN (1994-1999). He was previously head of the microbiology section at the Government's chemical and biological defence establishment, Porton Down. He was one of the UN weapons inspectors in Iraq during the 1990s.
After unofficially giving a briefing to a BBC journalist, which resulted in a BBC report claiming the government had 'sexed up' the case for war with Iraq, he was brought before a Commons select committee to explain himself. This caused the normally shy and gentle man not used to public exposure, so much stress that he took a walk to the woods near his home, and killed himself by slashing his wrists.
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Tony Blair has described the apparent suicide of weapons expert Dr David Kelly as an "absolutely terrible tragedy". Was the scientist under too much pressure? Comments from website viewers.
Special report including news, analysis and commentary, press review and archive.
Obituary by Nigel Fountain and Sarah A Smith, on the biological weapons expert with a reputation for thoroughness.
Blair has decided his own reputation must be defended, whatever the cost. Comment from Hugo Young.
Front page feature on the apparent suicide of Dr David Kelly, the backroom Whitehall scientist caught in the lethal crossfire over weapons of mass destruction between Downing Street and the BBC.
Tom Mangold, the former BBC correspondent and close friend of David Kelly, has accused Andrew Gilligan of "taking the apple Kelly gave him and mixing it with an orange from another source", and revealed that his final report "appalled" the respected weapons expert.
How the editors sat in judgement on the 'hounds who mauled Kelly'. Comment, from Peter Preston.
Transcript of the examination of Dr. Kelly before the Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday, 15 July 2003.
Until recently, David Kelly was an anonymous scientist working behind the scenes at the Ministry of Defence. Suddenly he found himself thrust unwillingly into the media spotlight at the centre of the bitter row between the BBC and Downing Street.
Comment and analysis from around the world about Iraq's WMD and why the US and UK went to war.
(September 01, 2003)
Review of the British press coverage of the ongoing row over the reasons Britain went to war, the quality of Western military intelligence, and news media bias, intensified by the suicide of British Ministry of Defence weapons expert David Kelly on July 18th.
(August 13, 2003)
The BBC discloses that Dr David Kelly was the principal source for its controversial report that an Iraq weapons dossier was "sexed up".
(July 20, 2003)
Weapons expert Dr David Kelly was a civil servant who had been thrown into the media spotlight over the Iraq dossier row. Profile of Dr Kelly.
(July 20, 2003)
Peter Preston, former editor of The Guardian newspaper says the David Kelly tragedy has its roots in the muddle of humanity.
(July 20, 2003)
Tony Blair was under unprecedented pressure last night as the suicide of Dr David Kelly, the weapons expert, plunged his Government into its gravest crisis. (Requires free registration)
(July 20, 2003)
Dr David Kelly is remembered by friends as a gentle, quiet man with a steely determination to get at the truth.
(July 19, 2003)
Police say a body found in the search for a missing Iraq arms expert matches Dr David Kelly, as the government announces a judicial inquiry.
(July 18, 2003)
Until recently, David Kelly was an anonymous scientist working behind the scenes at the Ministry of Defence. Suddenly he found himself thrust unwillingly into the media spotlight at the centre of the bitter row between the BBC and Downing Street.
Obituary by Nigel Fountain and Sarah A Smith, on the biological weapons expert with a reputation for thoroughness.
Blair has decided his own reputation must be defended, whatever the cost. Comment from Hugo Young.
How the editors sat in judgement on the 'hounds who mauled Kelly'. Comment, from Peter Preston.
Special report including news, analysis and commentary, press review and archive.
Front page feature on the apparent suicide of Dr David Kelly, the backroom Whitehall scientist caught in the lethal crossfire over weapons of mass destruction between Downing Street and the BBC.
Tom Mangold, the former BBC correspondent and close friend of David Kelly, has accused Andrew Gilligan of "taking the apple Kelly gave him and mixing it with an orange from another source", and revealed that his final report "appalled" the respected weapons expert.
Transcript of the examination of Dr. Kelly before the Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday, 15 July 2003.
Tony Blair has described the apparent suicide of weapons expert Dr David Kelly as an "absolutely terrible tragedy". Was the scientist under too much pressure? Comments from website viewers.
Comment and analysis from around the world about Iraq's WMD and why the US and UK went to war.
(September 01, 2003)
Review of the British press coverage of the ongoing row over the reasons Britain went to war, the quality of Western military intelligence, and news media bias, intensified by the suicide of British Ministry of Defence weapons expert David Kelly on July 18th.
(August 13, 2003)
Tony Blair was under unprecedented pressure last night as the suicide of Dr David Kelly, the weapons expert, plunged his Government into its gravest crisis. (Requires free registration)
(July 20, 2003)
Weapons expert Dr David Kelly was a civil servant who had been thrown into the media spotlight over the Iraq dossier row. Profile of Dr Kelly.
(July 20, 2003)
Peter Preston, former editor of The Guardian newspaper says the David Kelly tragedy has its roots in the muddle of humanity.
(July 20, 2003)
The BBC discloses that Dr David Kelly was the principal source for its controversial report that an Iraq weapons dossier was "sexed up".
(July 20, 2003)
Dr David Kelly is remembered by friends as a gentle, quiet man with a steely determination to get at the truth.
(July 19, 2003)
Police say a body found in the search for a missing Iraq arms expert matches Dr David Kelly, as the government announces a judicial inquiry.
(July 18, 2003)
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- Recently edited by merlin1