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BBC prepared for Somalia risk, inquest is told
Paul Cheston, Courts Correspondent25.11.08
THE BBC today defended the way it prepared to cover an assignment on which a 39-year-old journalist was shot dead.
Producer Kate Peyton, of Beyton, Suffolk, died in February 2005 after she was shot in the back outside a hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia. She had travelled there with reporter Peter Greste.
A BBC lawyer told the second day of the inquest into her death that a "very thorough" risk assessment had been launched in the planning stages.
Anthony Hudson outlined the BBC's approach to security as he questioned Mr Greste at the hearing in Ipswich. Mr Greste said he was very aware of the risks involved but felt the story of Somalia was "important". He had emailed a BBC official asking "particular attention" be paid to security. In the email he added: "I am confident that what we have proposed is as safe as we can make it."
The inquest continues.
