Care workers cleared of neglect

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Two care home workers accused of wilfully neglecting a resident have been cleared of all charges.

Alan Sayers, 52, who had dementia, died at the Mountleigh care home in Newbridge, Caerphilly county, on 27 September 2004.

The judge ruled that there was no case to answer against Michael Lurvey, 54, and Margaret Lewis, 60.

The trial continues on Monday at Newport Crown Court against two other care workers, two managers and a nurse.

Paramedics reported Mr Sayers had developed rigor mortis by the time his body was found, indicating he had been dead for several hours, the trial has heard.

Prosecutors claim he was left alone in the hours before his death, contravening his care regime.

Judge Roderick Denyer has discharged the jury from reaching a verdict in relation to care assistants Mr Lurvey, of Newbridge, and Ms Lewis, an agency worker, of Cwmbran after it was argued there was no case to answer.

They had denied the charges and not guilty verdicts were recorded.

Two other carers, Rosslyn Jenkins, 54, of Newbridge, and Chengeta Kaziboni, 55, of Bargoed, along with qualified nurse Musediq Salisu, 47, of Newport, who were on duty at the home on the night in question, are still on trial charged with the wilful neglect of a patient.

The care home's general manager Dawn Harris, 52, of Newport, and care manager Edna Evans, 56, of Llanbradach, are also charged with wilful neglect.

Also on trial is Mr Sayers' local GP, Dr Sushma Ohja, who is charged with obtaining property by deception and wilfully making a false representation with a view to procuring the burning of any human remains.