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semiotic_pirateMaybe now a wrongful death lawsuit can be filed against the hospital that caused his death? Although a malpractice suit would be in this case, self-evident, you might think a lawsuit filed against the state for prosecuting her for it would be done as well... Would that be considered a good path for her to take to begin her recovery process? Many people would say that revenge in this case would be appropriate for her to seek.
Mother cleared of baby salt death
A mother has been cleared of murdering her son by poisoning him with salt.
Marianne Williams, from Wiltshire, was found not guilty by a jury at Winchester Crown Court of killing 15-month-old Joshua.
The 24-year-old had repeatedly denied murdering Joshua, who was born 12 weeks prematurely with kidney problems. She was also cleared of his manslaughter.
Tests showed Joshua had high levels of sodium in his body when he died at Southampton General Hospital in 2004.
Cheers and tears
The jury took two and a half hours to reach its verdict.
Outside the court Ms Williams' solicitor, Jacqui Cameron, read a statement on her behalf.
She said: "Marianne is naturally delighted with the verdict and is extremely pleased that common sense has prevailed.
"We as lawyers, however, are very concerned that parents, usually mothers, are continuing to face the grave charge of murder on what can only be described at best as complex, and at worst dubious medical evidence.
"In far too many cases, as in this case, clinicians are much too prone to point the finger of suspicion at parents who are already vulnerable, having just suffered the death of their child.
"Today's verdict means that Marianne can go home to her family and begin to rebuild her life."
During the trial, the prosecution alleged that Ms Williams, who was on antidepressants, killed her son because she felt she could not cope.
But the defence said Joshua died as a result of a combination of his medical condition and the drugs he was taking for his care.
Ms Williams was 21 when Joshua died.
Joshua was born on 26 November, 2002, after Ms Williams had been in a long-term relationship with his father Paul Taylor.
Joshua, whose twin had died in the womb, weighed 2lb 10oz (1.2kg) at birth and had a number of medical problems, including very small kidneys.
'Filthy stigma'
The trial was told that because Joshua's kidneys were failing, they would expel too much sodium.
He was given necessary daily dosages of sodium chloride to replenish his salt levels.
Ms Williams' mother, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, told the BBC the last two-and-a-half years had been "absolutely horrendous" for her daughter.
She said: "Nobody can ever understand the two-and-a-half years, the memories, the devastation, the filthy stigma that she's had to live with and face on a daily basis, unless you've actually experienced these sort of situations."
Outside court Det Insp Matt Johnson, of Wiltshire Police, defended the investigation, which he said had been "complex, and required sensitivity".
He added: "The decision to bring charges was only taken after lengthy consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service and a meticulous review of all the evidence that was available.
"I acknowledge the verdict reached by the jury and would add only that I am satisfied that every possible piece of evidence that could be found was properly presented."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/hampshire/6088686.stm
-----------------------------------------------------------
I know exactly how this woman feels. When your infant dies, you are the first person (being the mother and assumed primary caregiver) to be cast under the cloud of suspicion, and it is assumed that something rotten is in Denmark. When my son died, they sent a Coroner/Medical Examiner to the scene. He "interviewed" myself and my husband, who held me while I sat there mainly in shock, and he "delicately" accused me of doing something wrong, explaining that they were going to conduct an autopsy as "standard procedure" and all that. Being dazed and traumatized from having found my son no more than an hour or two previous to this I didn't even register it but my husband LEAPT to my defense and point-blank confronted this JERK about his offhand and underlying accusatory tone and statements.
He never even really apologized after cutting my son up and taking pieces of his body for running a battery of tests. Just that he appeared healthy and happy from his condition post mortem, etc.
Holy fucking Christ. I know exactly how she feels. And going to the site and watching the tape of the statement made by the lawyer with the woman standing next to her is well worth it.
Mother cleared of baby salt death
A mother has been cleared of murdering her son by poisoning him with salt.
Marianne Williams, from Wiltshire, was found not guilty by a jury at Winchester Crown Court of killing 15-month-old Joshua.
The 24-year-old had repeatedly denied murdering Joshua, who was born 12 weeks prematurely with kidney problems. She was also cleared of his manslaughter.
Tests showed Joshua had high levels of sodium in his body when he died at Southampton General Hospital in 2004.
Cheers and tears
The jury took two and a half hours to reach its verdict.
Outside the court Ms Williams' solicitor, Jacqui Cameron, read a statement on her behalf.
She said: "Marianne is naturally delighted with the verdict and is extremely pleased that common sense has prevailed.
"We as lawyers, however, are very concerned that parents, usually mothers, are continuing to face the grave charge of murder on what can only be described at best as complex, and at worst dubious medical evidence.
"In far too many cases, as in this case, clinicians are much too prone to point the finger of suspicion at parents who are already vulnerable, having just suffered the death of their child.
"Today's verdict means that Marianne can go home to her family and begin to rebuild her life."
During the trial, the prosecution alleged that Ms Williams, who was on antidepressants, killed her son because she felt she could not cope.
But the defence said Joshua died as a result of a combination of his medical condition and the drugs he was taking for his care.
Ms Williams was 21 when Joshua died.
Joshua was born on 26 November, 2002, after Ms Williams had been in a long-term relationship with his father Paul Taylor.
Joshua, whose twin had died in the womb, weighed 2lb 10oz (1.2kg) at birth and had a number of medical problems, including very small kidneys.
'Filthy stigma'
The trial was told that because Joshua's kidneys were failing, they would expel too much sodium.
He was given necessary daily dosages of sodium chloride to replenish his salt levels.
Ms Williams' mother, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, told the BBC the last two-and-a-half years had been "absolutely horrendous" for her daughter.
She said: "Nobody can ever understand the two-and-a-half years, the memories, the devastation, the filthy stigma that she's had to live with and face on a daily basis, unless you've actually experienced these sort of situations."
Outside court Det Insp Matt Johnson, of Wiltshire Police, defended the investigation, which he said had been "complex, and required sensitivity".
He added: "The decision to bring charges was only taken after lengthy consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service and a meticulous review of all the evidence that was available.
"I acknowledge the verdict reached by the jury and would add only that I am satisfied that every possible piece of evidence that could be found was properly presented."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/hampshire/6088686.stm
-----------------------------------------------------------
I know exactly how this woman feels. When your infant dies, you are the first person (being the mother and assumed primary caregiver) to be cast under the cloud of suspicion, and it is assumed that something rotten is in Denmark. When my son died, they sent a Coroner/Medical Examiner to the scene. He "interviewed" myself and my husband, who held me while I sat there mainly in shock, and he "delicately" accused me of doing something wrong, explaining that they were going to conduct an autopsy as "standard procedure" and all that. Being dazed and traumatized from having found my son no more than an hour or two previous to this I didn't even register it but my husband LEAPT to my defense and point-blank confronted this JERK about his offhand and underlying accusatory tone and statements.
He never even really apologized after cutting my son up and taking pieces of his body for running a battery of tests. Just that he appeared healthy and happy from his condition post mortem, etc.
Holy fucking Christ. I know exactly how she feels. And going to the site and watching the tape of the statement made by the lawyer with the woman standing next to her is well worth it.
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no subject
Date: 2006-10-27 09:34 pm (UTC)Seriously. I mean a thing so fragile as that could be "murdered" by accidently breathing the wrong way and had every excellent chance of dying even if she did everything right. This is ridiculous, what shit would ever believe that she'd done it in?
At one point is a being so fragile and unsurvivable that nobody has to be held responsible for its death? I don't know, but I'd say that "a trimester premature" qualifies for that.
Fucking ridiculous.
no subject
Date: 2006-10-27 11:09 pm (UTC)I was in an isolation chamber but I wasn't hooked up to all kinds of tube and whatever, I was given time to catch up on development that I would've had in the womb but as far as I know there were no extreme measures taken to keep me alive.