Shirlie Duckworth, led by David McLachlan QC, was instructed by the Crown to Prosecute the parents of a 9-day old baby who had been charged following her unlawful death.
The case was factually and legally complex and involved multiple expert witnesses which were called to deal with the medical evidence. The prosecution could not prove which parent was responsible for causing the numerous injuries inflicted on the baby over the course of her very short life but they were successful in securing convictions against both defendants for allowing the serious injury and the death of the baby.
The father was sentenced to 10 years and the mother was sentenced to 8 years. Judge Robin Spencer told the pair: “She was only eight days old. She was a defenceless baby. It was the duty of both of you to protect her. Instead she paid the ultimate price for that appalling breach of your duty as parents.”
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