THE mystery woman who became David Kelly’s spiritual mentor and introduced him to the Baha’i faith may be summoned before the Hutton inquiry. A spokesman for the inquiry said that members of Lord Hutton’s team were aware of the important, but little-understood, role that Mai Pederson appeared to have played during the last years of Dr Kelly’s life.

“It is possible that she may be called to give evidence,” he told The Times. A spokeswoman for the US Air Force base where Ms Pederson serves as a senior master sergeant, said: “This is a very private matter. She is co-operating with the authorities in Britain. She will not be speaking to the press.”

Ms Pederson, 43, an Arab-American, first met Dr Kelly five years ago while working as his translator during a United Nations arms inspection mission to Iraq.

The inquiry has so far cast little light on her friendship with Dr Kelly, 59, although the scientist’s widow, Janice, has described Ms Pederson as “quite influential” at the time of his religious conversion, and has said that she became a friend of the Kelly family.

One person who has already testified at the inquiry said: “I think that the deep personal side should be left alone but it will not be. But it will not be me who spills the beans."

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