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Majority guidance in heroin case Heroin death sister found guilty
(about 2 hours later)
The jury trying a woman accused of failing to help her teenage half-sister who died of a heroin overdose has been directed to reach a majority verdict. A woman has been found guilty of manslaughter through gross negligence after her teenage half-sister died of a heroin overdose.
Gemma Evans, 25, of Llanelli, denies manslaughter through gross negligence of Carly Townsend, 16. Gemma Evans, 25, of Llanelli, had denied the charge but was found guilty by a jury at Swansea Crown Court.
The Swansea Crown Court jury resumed on Friday and was told by Mr Justice Lloyd-Jones to reach a majority verdict. Andrea Townsend, 46, of Pwll, Llanelli - Carly's and Ms Evans's mother - was found guilty of the charge on Thursday.
Andrea Townsend, Carly and Ms Evans's mother, was found guilty on Thursday. The court heard the pair knew the teenager had taken heroin but put her to bed instead of calling an ambulance.
Townsend has been bailed for sentencing later. The court had heard that Townsend and Evans went to watch Emmerdale on TV after putting Carly to bed.
The court has heard that 46-year-old Townsend, of Pwll, Llanelli, put her teenage daughter to bed at their home instead of calling an ambulance, and watched Emmerdale on TV. Townsend said she believed her daughter would "sleep it off".
She said she believed her daughter would "sleep it off". The mother and daughter were released on bail following the jury's verdict and will be sentenced in May.
During the two-week trial the jury heard that on 2 May last year Carly had bought three bags of heroin.During the two-week trial the jury heard that on 2 May last year Carly had bought three bags of heroin.
OverdoseOverdose
Townsend - and it is alleged Ms Evans too - knew she had taken the drug and in the early evening she was showing signs of an overdose as her lips had turned blue and she was drifting in and out of consciousness. It was alleged Townsend and Ms Evans knew she had taken the drug and in the early evening she was showing signs of an overdose as her lips had turned blue and she was drifting in and out of consciousness.
The prosecution's case is that her half-sister had helped Carly buy the drugs and she and her mother "took a risk" with her life by not seeking medical help. The prosecution said that her half-sister had helped Carly buy the drugs and she and her mother "took a risk" with her life by not seeking medical help.
The jury has been told that that Townsend and Ms Evans feared they and Carly would get into trouble. The jury had been told that that Townsend and Evans feared they and Carly would get into trouble.
Prosecutor Paul Thomas said they owed Carly a duty of care and their actions amounted to gross negligence.Prosecutor Paul Thomas said they owed Carly a duty of care and their actions amounted to gross negligence.
The defence case was that the pair did not believe Carly was in danger and that she would "sleep off" the effects of the class A drug.The defence case was that the pair did not believe Carly was in danger and that she would "sleep off" the effects of the class A drug.
Drug deathsDrug deaths
Townsend told the jury Carly had been hospitalised twice for heroin overdoses and she had seen her daughter in far worse states than the one she was in on the night she died.Townsend told the jury Carly had been hospitalised twice for heroin overdoses and she had seen her daughter in far worse states than the one she was in on the night she died.
Townsend also told the court that "about 20" of her friends had died through drugs, including her husband, who was Carly's father. She also told the court that "about 20" of her friends had died through drugs, including her husband, who was Carly's father.
She said her husband had overdosed on the heroin substitute Palfium, while Carly's half-sister had once collapsed after taking heroin and had to be saved by paramedics.She said her husband had overdosed on the heroin substitute Palfium, while Carly's half-sister had once collapsed after taking heroin and had to be saved by paramedics.
Ms Evans had declined to enter the witness box to give evidence on her own behalf. Evansdeclined to enter the witness box to give evidence on her own behalf.
The court was told that Carly was released from a secure unit in Neath 10 days before her death, and her mother said she did not tell anyone in authority her daughter had taken heroin because she could have been returned to custody.The court was told that Carly was released from a secure unit in Neath 10 days before her death, and her mother said she did not tell anyone in authority her daughter had taken heroin because she could have been returned to custody.