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Chess star's mother talks of case System 'failed' dead chess star
(about 1 hour later)
The mother of a teenage chess prodigy who fell to her death after accusing her father of rape has spoken about the case for the first time. The mother of a chess prodigy who died after accusing her father of rape claims she was advised her daughter did not need counselling before his trial.
Jessie Gilbert, 19, had accused her father Ian of assaulting her at the family home in Surrey. He was cleared of all charges in December last year. Jessie Gilbert, 19, and her mother Angela were told any therapy might help the defence's case.
Jessie fell from a hotel window in the Czech Republic in July last year before the start of the trial. Jessie's father Ian was acquitted last December of assaulting her at the family home in Waldingham, Surrey.
Angela Gilbert said delays in the legal process had contributed to her death. The youngster fell from a hotel window, in the Czech Republic in July 2006, before the case came to court.
In her first interview since her daughter's death, Mrs Gilbert told BBC Radio 5 Live there had not been enough support.
I think that extra delay put tremendous strain on Jessie Angela Gilbert
She said: "I still feel the system has been inadequate, partly because of some of the procedures and operating practices that are put in place.
"We were told that we couldn't seek counselling help. If we did it would have been used by the defence in order to weaken our evidence."
Mrs Gilbert believed a delay of several months in bringing the case to court last year had probably put extra strain on her daughter.
"I think that extra delay put tremendous strain on Jessie, I just don't think she could cope with it, it was more than her heart and soul could bear," she said.
Child's 'welfare'
The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed Mrs Gilbert had been made aware of the issues that could be raised by the defence if Jessica received counselling.
"The welfare of a child is always at the forefront of our minds and while counselling can cause difficulties in a criminal case, this does not prevent people from having counselling," it said in a statement.
Mr Gilbert, a bank director, was accused of repeatedly raping Jessie between 1995 and 2000.
But he was cleared of all charges following at trial at Guilford Crown Court.