Prank DJs May Face Probe After Death of Kate Middleton Nurse
British police are considering a probe into Australian DJ's Mel Greig and Michael Christian following a prank call that led to the death of a nurse who was caring for Duchess Kate Middleton.
Jacintha Saldanha was found dead in a room nearby the hospital on Friday morning in what officials suspect was a suicide. Saldanha had faced scrutiny after giving out private information about Kate Middleton during a prank made by Greig and Christian.
Both radio disk jockeys worked for 2Day FM in Australia. Since the incident the jockeys have been forced to go into hiding, according to ABC News. Now, British officials may begin a probe into the case. The station is synonymous with making prank phone calls and has been cautioned in the past by Australia's broadcast regulator over violations of the country's "decency provision."
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A debate has also begun over whether or not the DJ's are in violation of the law by recording the private conversation held between the nurse, which was aired on radio. The parent company for 2Day FM has stated that no laws were broken and that the call adhered to regulations before it was broadcast, according to Good Morning America.
"I think the more important question here is that we're very confident that we haven't done anything illegal. Our main concern at this point in time is what has happened is incredibly tragic and we're deeply saddened and we're incredibly affected by that," Rhys Holleran, CEO of Southern Cross Austereo, said according to the news station.
The station released a statement apologizing for the incident.
"2Day FM sincerely apologizes for any inconvenience caused by the inquiry to Kate's hospital. The radio segment was done with lighthearted intentions," the station said in an earlier statement.
Prince William and Kate Middleton have also released a statement regretting the death of Saldanha.
"The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Jacintha Saldanha," a spokesman from St. James Palace said in a statement.
