Criminal charges for UK royal hoax callers?

UK prosecutors are considering whether to press charges over a royal hoax call that led to the apparent suicide of an Indian-origin nurse.

The Crown Prosecution Service is to consider whether any offences were committed when a hoax call was made to the hospital where the Duchess of Cambridge was receiving treatment.

Jacintha Saldanha, 46, a mother of two, was found dead in staff accommodation at the hospital three days after the incident.

She had answered the telephone call made by two Australian DJs to the hospital in Marylebone, central London. The two presenters convinced her they were the Queen and the Prince of Wales.

Saldanha transferred the call to another nurse who unwittingly gave the DJs an update on the Duchess' condition.

Within an hour of the hoax call, one of the DJs telephoned the hospital back and spoke to Jacintha again, telling her they had played a prank which they were about to broadcast.

The revelation is believed to have left Jacintha, who had no experience of dealing with the media, feeling confused and agitated, it said.

The DJs, who are believed to be at safe addresses following death threats, have apologised for the tragic repercussions of their prank.

Scotland Yard has submitted a file to the Crown Prosecution Service relating to the prank call.