Widow denies Russian tycoon Alexander Perepilichnyy was poisoned

The widow of a wealthy Russian whistle-blower who died while out running has denied he was secretly killed.

Speaking at an inquest into the death of Alexander Perepilichnyy, Tatiana Perepilichnaya said her businessman husband had never feared for his life.

She said suggestions the pair moved to England because he owed people a lot of money were false.

Mr Perepilichnyy, 44, collapsed and died while out jogging near his home in Weybridge, Surrey, in November 2012. He is suspected of being poisoned by sorrel soup.

His death was originally attributed to natural causes, but traces of a chemical that can be found in the poisonous plant Gelsemium elegans were later found in his stomach.

Mr Perepilichnyy had been helping a specialist investment firm uncover a $230m (£150m) Russian money-laundering operation.

His name appeared on a "hit list" in Moscow and he had taken out million of pounds in life insurance policies, the court heard.

Image:The road on the estate in Weybridge where Mr Perepilichnyy collapsed

Speaking at the Old Bailey on Monday behind a screen, Ms Perepilichnaya denied her husband fell out with an "organised crime syndicate".

She said: "I know if there were any threats or problems Alexander would have told me."

She also described how she made the sorrel soup on the day her husband died. She said she cooked it with her daughter using boiled chicken, onions and carrot.

She said both her and her daughter tasted the soup while cooking it and then finished it later in the day.

She added that she was unaware of a man taking out an advert in Russia in 2011, accusing her husband of cheating him out of "a lot of money".

She denied knowing about any fraud allegations, adding: "I only have time to do house chores."

Ms Perepilichnaya said her "workaholic" husband had never discussed with her losing a large amount of money he had invested for Russians, nor any worry about being arrested in his home country.

She told the inquest that their family "liked England very much" and moved to the UK because "people are kind, polite and smile at you."

Surrey Police testified that an investigation had concluded there was no basis to conclude Mr Perepilichnaya was murdered.

Peter Skelton QC, counsel for the coroner, also told the court that requests had been made for any information held by MI5 and MI6 into the deceased.

He said the Government had taken a "generous approach" in its reply to the coroner although it had led to a public interest immunity application to keep some "sensitive" information secret.

The inquest continues.