The family of Jacintha Saldanha, the nurse who was found dead after taking a prank call from two Australian radio DJs targeting the Duchess of Cambridge have spoken of the "terrible grief" they are still enduring as a result of her death.

Mrs Saldanha, 45, was found dead in her nurse's lodgings at the King Edward VII hospital in London in December, three days after putting through a call from the 2Day FM hosts Mel Greig and Michael Christian, who were pretending to be the Queen and the Prince of Wales.

According to a report in today's Guardian, Saldanha's husband, Benedict Barboza, daughter Lisha, 14, and son Junal, 17, today attended a pre-inquest hearing at Westminster coroner's court. The actual inquest is to be held on May 2nd.

Speaking for the family, the British Asian MP Keith Vaz said: "These have been dreadful, dreadful weeks and months for them. They will never, ever come to terms with the death of Jacintha who they loved so much, but they hope this process will begin the healing process."

During the hearing, the family's legal representative, John Cooper QC, questioned whether under the terms of her employment contract the nurse should have been answering the hospital phone.

He asked why it was that Saldanha "was placed in a position in a matron office to be receiving calls from outside agencies".