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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Pair cleared of boy's salt death | Pair cleared of boy's salt death |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A couple have been cleared of using salt to poison and kill a three-year-old boy they hoped to adopt. | |
| Christian Blewitt collapsed at the couple's home in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, in December 2002. | |
| Ian and Angela Gay, now of Halesowen, West Midlands, were found not guilty of manslaughter and child cruelty. | Ian and Angela Gay, now of Halesowen, West Midlands, were found not guilty of manslaughter and child cruelty. |
| The pair had previously been convicted of his manslaughter, but won a retrial because of new medical evidence which said the high salt levels were natural. | The pair had previously been convicted of his manslaughter, but won a retrial because of new medical evidence which said the high salt levels were natural. |
| Prosecutors at Nottingham Crown Court had claimed the couple had force-fed salt to the boy as a form of punishment. | Prosecutors at Nottingham Crown Court had claimed the couple had force-fed salt to the boy as a form of punishment. |
| We have waited for years for this moment and finally justice has been done Angela Gay | We have waited for years for this moment and finally justice has been done Angela Gay |
| But the pair's defence team argued a rare medical condition caused Christian's body to store toxic levels of salt. | But the pair's defence team argued a rare medical condition caused Christian's body to store toxic levels of salt. |
| Two years ago the couple were jailed for five years after being convicted of manslaughter. | Two years ago the couple were jailed for five years after being convicted of manslaughter. |
| They served 15 months of that sentence before a retrial was ordered in April last year and the couple were released on bail. | They served 15 months of that sentence before a retrial was ordered in April last year and the couple were released on bail. |
| Found comatose | Found comatose |
| Christian was just five weeks into a 13-week trial adoption with the couple when he collapsed. | Christian was just five weeks into a 13-week trial adoption with the couple when he collapsed. |
| After four days in intensive care, he died at Birmingham Children's Hospital and tests showed the high sodium levels. | After four days in intensive care, he died at Birmingham Children's Hospital and tests showed the high sodium levels. |
| The couple's retrial was told that in the hours leading up to the boy's collapse, Christian had been sent to bed as a punishment for not eating his lunch. He was later found comatose in the bedroom. | The couple's retrial was told that in the hours leading up to the boy's collapse, Christian had been sent to bed as a punishment for not eating his lunch. He was later found comatose in the bedroom. |
| Why were salt levels high? | Why were salt levels high? |
| Prosecutors had said he had collapsed because the couple had force-fed him salt because of his misbehaviour. | Prosecutors had said he had collapsed because the couple had force-fed him salt because of his misbehaviour. |
| They had also manhandled the boy, the prosecution argued, shaking him or throwing him on to a mattress so as to cause the bruising to his head. | They had also manhandled the boy, the prosecution argued, shaking him or throwing him on to a mattress so as to cause the bruising to his head. |
| After the verdict, Mrs Gay, 40, read out a short statement on the steps of the court. | After the verdict, Mrs Gay, 40, read out a short statement on the steps of the court. |
| "We have waited for years for this moment and finally justice has been done," she said. | "We have waited for years for this moment and finally justice has been done," she said. |
| "We would like to thank our family, friends, and legal team. They have been wonderful. | "We would like to thank our family, friends, and legal team. They have been wonderful. |
| Retrial 'was right' | Retrial 'was right' |
| "They have all supported us so magnificently and we would now appreciate some time alone to gather our thoughts before commenting further." | "They have all supported us so magnificently and we would now appreciate some time alone to gather our thoughts before commenting further." |
| Leading barrister Michael Mansfield, QC said cases based on conflicting arguments from experts, such as this, should not be brought to court. | |
| "You're presenting a jury or a judge with an impossible task. | |
| We believe we were right to place it before a jury for the second time Crown Prosecution Service | |
| "How do you choose between accredited experts and I don't think that that's possible and I don't think that those cases should be prosecuted in the first place." | |
| The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has defended its decision to pursue a retrial in the case. | The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has defended its decision to pursue a retrial in the case. |
| In a statement, it said: "In the light of the new medical evidence, we believe we were right to place it before a jury for the second time. | In a statement, it said: "In the light of the new medical evidence, we believe we were right to place it before a jury for the second time. |
| "I am satisfied that the CPS fulfilled its duty under the Code for Crown Prosecutors. Our thoughts today are with Christian's family." | "I am satisfied that the CPS fulfilled its duty under the Code for Crown Prosecutors. Our thoughts today are with Christian's family." |