Russian whistleblower Alexander Perepilichnyy may have been 'poisoned'
An inquest hears that Alexander Perepilichnyy sent some "bad" tempura prawn back the night before he collapsed while jogging.
Thursday 12 April 2018 18:45, UK
A "malignant" poisoner at a smart Japanese restaurant in Paris could have killed a wealthy Russian whistleblower, it has been claimed.
However, an inquest heard that the "number one suspect" was not a poisoner some seafood Alexander Perepilichnyy ate during the romantic meal.
Mr Perepilichnyy, a married father, collapsed while out jogging near his home in Weybridge, Surrey, in November 2012.
The night before, the 44-year-old had been at the Buddha Bar in Paris with his 28-year-old lover, ex-model Elmira Medynska.
After sending some "bad" tempura prawn back, he ate either sushi or sashimi and later vomited repeatedly when he got back to his hotel, the Old Bailey heard.
"I think maybe he vomited because it was not good food in the restaurant," Ms Medynska said.
Bob Moxon Browne QC, for Legal and General Assurance, said: "It seems likely that Mr Perepilichnyy ate something that disagreed with him on the night before his death.
"That could have been because someone malignantly put poison in his food."
Mr Perepilichnyy had been helping a specialist investment firm uncover a $230m (£150m) Russian money-laundering operation.
The inquest has heard previously that his name was on a "hit list" in Moscow and that he had taken out millions of pounds in life insurance policies.
Cardiologist Dr Peter Wilmshurst said there was a "more than 50%" chance that Mr Perepilichnyy's death was the result of poisoning - if he had eaten fish at the Japanese restaurant.
Symptoms caused by histamine or scombroid poisoning such as rashes, hives, cramps, vomiting, a "peppery taste" and itching could result from eating fish such as salmon, tuna and mackerel, he said.
While Dr Wilmshurst said such poisoning was rarely fatal, he added that "there are cases of people who have died of it".
Counsel for the coroner, Peter Skelton QC, said: "Ms Medynska's evidence was he may have eaten some kind of fish on the night of 9 November.
"She could not be clear about it. They did not share their food. He said at the time some of the food tasted bad and sent it back. It could have been prawns rather than fish.
"What she was clear about was that he vomited three times during the course of an hour and she also said that afterwards when he returned from the bathroom he had a red face and red eyes.
"He said he felt better afterwards and did not want to go to see a doctor."
Coroner Nicholas Hilliard QC is looking at how Mr Perepilichnyy died, whether he was poisoned and who might have had a motive for murder.