Baby deaths doctor'breached duty to be fair'

UK: A Home Office pathologist who claimed there was "overwhelming evidence" of a double murder in the Sally Clark baby case undertook "serious and repeated departures" from expected medical standards, a disciplinary panel heard.

Mistakes made by Dr Alan Williams led to "very serious consequences for Mrs Clark and her family", the General Medical Council's professional conduct committee heard.

Dr Williams is accused of serious professional misconduct over postmortem examinations he performed on 12-week-old Christopher Clark in 1996 and eight-week-old Harry two years later.

Mrs Clark was jailed for life for smothering the boys, but had her conviction quashed by the court of appeal after spending three years in prison.

The committee, sitting in London, has already ruled that Dr Williams failed in his duty to consider all possible causes of death and said his postmortem of Christopher was so impaired it could not be considered reliable.

It also ruled he had withheld details of some blood samples taken from Christopher and had originally given the cause of death as lower respiratory tract infection - and "this did not have a proper scientific basis".

The committee is now considering whether the facts of the case amount to serious professional misconduct.

If he is found guilty, Dr Williams could be struck off or have conditions imposed on his medical registration.

Sarah Vaughan-Jones for the GMC, said Dr Williams' cumulative actions fell "far below" standards expected of a medical practitioner.

She said his actions "potentially and actually had very serious consequences on Mrs Clark and her family", and there had been a "breach of an expert's important duty to give fair, accurate and objective evidence" at criminal trials.

Dr Williams had passed blame on to other people and some of his findings had no scientific basis, she said.

In mitigation, James Turner QC, for Dr Williams, said colleagues had heaped praise on the pathologist as being a "caring professional", and "honest professional", who showed great integrity.

There had been no deliberate move to deceive people, he said, adding: "Whatever has gone wrong has gone wrong inadvertently and in good faith and not in the cause of pursuing a crusade or hobbyhorse," against mothers whose children died.

"This is a case where the consequences were a result of an unfortunate combination and coincidence of errors on the part of a variety of individuals and institutions."

Dr Williams denies serious professional misconduct. The hearing continues.

Accused of abuse, but never tried

Mothers Sally Clark and Trupti Patel found themselves in the dock accused of murdering their babies partly on the strength of expert testimony by Sir Roy Meadows. But other families have been forcibly separated thanks to Sir Roy's testimony without police charges ever being brought.

By Just Us posted 3 June 05

Related:

Mother's conviction quashed for killing her children
LONDON - The conviction of a mother convicted six years ago of killing her two children has been quashed by London's Appeal Court.

Experts in child abuse cases face inquiry
UK: The government launched an official inquiry into the quality of expert medical evidence in child abuse cases last Thursday, as the implications of the miscarriage of justice in the Angela Cannings case continued to perplex ministers.

Cot deaths and justice
Did you kill your babies?' A whisper came from the crumpled figure in the dock: 'No.' The whisper grew louder: 'No, no.' It was as if we were witnessing torture in Reading Crown Court. It is hard to imagine a crueller inquisition than that which faced Trupti Patel: a mother loses three babies in cot death and then goes through the hell of being accused of murdering them.

Accused of abuse, but never tried
Mothers Sally Clark and Trupti Patel found themselves in the dock accused of murdering their babies partly on the strength of expert testimony by Sir Roy Meadows. But other families have been forcibly separated thanks to Sir Roy's testimony without police charges ever being brought.

Cot Death Mothers: The Witch Hunt
John Sweeney investigates when mothers, grieving the loss of a child after cot death, are wrongly accused of murder.

Australia

Appeals court told woman's sentence barbaric!
Appeal: Folbigg's lawyers argue her sentence is barbaric.But is she guilty? When she has maintains her innocence? And what about "Meadows law"?

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome! & The Kathleen Folbigg Case
Kathleen Megan Folbigg, 37, is either Australia's worst female serial killer or her case is a serious miscarriage of justice in which an innocent mother has been wrongfully convicted of infanticide.

Folbigg, convicted until proven innocent
Convicted August 2003 for the manslaughter of her eldest child Caleb, and the murder of her next three children, Patrick, Sarah and Laura. Disturbing similarities between the case of Kathleen Folbigg and that of Sally Clark (nb. Other Meadows cases Trupti Patel, Angela Cannings, Donna Anthony, Margaret Smith, Julie Ferris, Maxine Robinson) using "Meadows law" one cot death is tragic, two suspicious, three murder." The Attorney-General in England is reviewing more than 250 cases where a parent may have been wrongly convicted. In other words, Professor Meadows evidence has been totally discredited. There is a furore in England, but no mention in Australian press?

Folbigg may have been innocent
On the other hand, some people simply lied or got it wrong because the system failed, The prosecution is not equal to the defence, professional opinions can be flawed and juries can determine the wrong evidence.

Family tragedy in police spotlight
JOSEPHINE CAFAGNA, REPORTER: Next week the last chapter will be played out in a case that shocked the nation, the case of Kathleen Folbigg, found guilty of killing her four babies in NSW, at first thought to have died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Next week Kathleen Folbigg will know the sentence for her crime. In May this year, following the Folbigg conviction, Stateline made inquiries here in Victoria about any cases of multiple SIDS deaths in the one family. Stateline asked the Homicide Squad, the Coroners Court, Human Services Victoria and the SIDS Foundation if any cases were being re-examined in light of the Folbigg case. The answer was no

2nd Renaissance -36 Let The Girls Go! [263]
During 2003 an Australian woman, Kathleen Folbigg, was sentenced to 40 years in prison, with a non-parole period of 30 years. Her crime, which she continues to deny, was to consecutively smother her four children when they were aged between 8 and 19 months. She was largely convicted on the basis of entries in her private diary, although these did not specifically refer to her having killed her two sons and two daughters; only that she was her father's daughter. Her lawyers are appealing her conviction.

Riot not planned: Palm Is leaders

Community leaders on Palm Island off north Queensland have rejected suggestions that Friday's riot was premeditated.

The community remains calm but tense, with police reinforcements sent to the island today.

The police station and courthouse were destroyed when residents went on a rampage, angered over the death of 36-year-old Cameron Doomadgee in police custody.

Nine people have now been charged with various offences in relation to the riot.

Police say he died after a scuffle, during which he and an officer fell onto concrete steps. [?]

Palm Island community councillor, Rosina Norman, says the riot was not planned.

"If it were, it would have happened from Monday because this started Monday," she said.

"We had a community meeting then the people went up to the police station and asked for the police to come out."

Premier Peter Beattie says the Crime and Misconduct Commission is investigating Mr Doomadgee's death.

By Just Us 27 November 04

Related:

Palm Island crisis easing
Indigenous community residents took to the streets after the release of an autopsy conducted on a man who died in police custody.

Hundreds riot over death
THE police station on Queensland's Palm Island has been burnt to the ground and other buildings damaged during a riot by up to 300 residents angry over a death in custody.

Whitewash over Hickey's death
The New South Wales coroner has cleared police of any responsibility for the death of Aboriginal teenager Thomas 'TJ' Hickey.

Palm Island crisis easing

North Queensland police say the crisis on Palm Island has now eased in the aftermath of yesterday's riot.

Indigenous community residents took to the streets after the release of an autopsy conducted on a man who died in police custody.

The autopsy showed that Cameron Doomadgee had broken ribs and died from a punctured lung in the watch-house last Friday.

Up to 300 islanders stormed the police station, setting fire to it with a petrol bomb. They also destroyed the police residence.

Fire officials trying to control the blaze were reportedly threatened by locals, some of whom were carrying knives and other weapons.

A fire truck was also destroyed.

Mr Doomadgee's cousin, Murrandoo Doomadgee, says he understands the anger in the local community.

"What we look upon with shame is the continued violence of police against young Aboriginal men and women," he said.

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie has sought to reassure Palm Islanders the death will be properly investigated and Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson, who has flown to Townsville, says his officers will fully co-operate.

It is believed 60 police officers are on Palm Island trying to restore law and order.

Meanwhile, Queensland's coroner released a statement last night, promising an "open and thorough" inquest into Mr Doomadgee's death.

Michael Barnes says an initial report indicates there is no evidence to suggest that his injuries were caused by the "direct use of force." [?]

He says the pathologist believes they were consistent with Mr Doomadgee and another person falling onto a hard surface - such as the watch-house steps - during a struggle. [?]

By Sorry 26 November 04

Related:

Hundreds riot over death
THE police station on Queensland's Palm Island has been burnt to the ground and other buildings damaged during a riot by up to 300 residents angry over a death in custody.

Whitewash over Hickey's death
The New South Wales coroner has cleared police of any responsibility for the death of Aboriginal teenager Thomas 'TJ' Hickey.

Hundreds riot over death on Palm Island

THE police station on Queensland's Palm Island has been burnt to the ground and other buildings damaged during a riot by up to 300 residents angry over a death in custody.

Up to 50 armed police reinforcements were today being flown to the Aboriginal settlement after hundreds of angry residents stormed the police station and adjoining courthouse early this afternoon, setting fire to the buildings with a petrol bomb.

Residents "were believed" to have blocked the airstrip with cars to stop police reinforcements being flown from nearby Townsville.

Palm Island resident Nicky Bull said the situation was worse than during this year's Redfern riots in Sydney.

"There's smoke everywhere, the police station's just about burnt to the ground as it is, as well as the residence where the police live," she said.

The riot follows the release of a post-mortem examination of Cameron Doomadgee, 36, who died in custody last Friday.

The autopsy found the man had four broken ribs and died from a punctured lung.

Another resident, Nicky Willis, said, "The atmosphere over here at the moment is one that's full of anger because of what's come out of the coroner's report .

"It's one that's full of fear as well because there are a lot of good people that live on this land.

"There's a lot of elders that live here . . . and they are living in fear."

The Palm Island hospital has been locked down.

By Just Us 26 November 04

Related:

Whitewash over Hickey's death
The New South Wales coroner has cleared police of any responsibility for the death of Aboriginal teenager Thomas 'TJ' Hickey.

Redfern police need education not weapons
NSW police want new offensive equipment including long-range capsicum spray guns and modified armoured vehicles capable of spraying tear gas following a damning report on the Redfern riots in Sydney earlier this year.

Carr defends Redfern riot fallout
But such is the fact that police can do no wrong according to authorities that one wonders what benefit to the community this report would be other than to protect the police again.

The Young Man From Kamilaroi
On Monday, 5 July 2004, the Hickey Family and their supporters will come together in the Glebe Coroners Court with the Redfern Police, the same police, specifically unknown at this time, who pursued the Young Man to his death by impalement.

Police stalkers set to escape
The real issue was posted it read "Wanted child murderers"!

Payback over Redfern riot after death in custody
A 37 year-old woman will appear in court today charged over her alleged involvement in a riot in Redfern on Sunday night.

Riot in Redfern over death in custody
The reported claim that 50 police were injured during rioting in Redfern over a death in custody is nothing more than a counter claim required to balance the argument that Thomas Hickey wasn't chased to his death by police.

Redfern police 'need to be made accountable'
POLICE have no right to demand increased support to patrol Redfern in the wake of one of the worst death in custody cover-ups by police in Australian history.

"If I Could Turn Back Time" Daily Terror, CH/7
THE real cause of last month's violent Redfern riots was the death of teenager Thomas "TJ" Hickey but perhaps only one element of the racism, harassment and bullying by the New South Wales police force and in this case Redfern police at the Block.

Was Thomas Hickey payback?
Yesterday it was alleged police faced a potentially deadly confrontation with locals of a redfern housing block last week when a gun was grabbed from an officer's holster and held to his stomach.

TJ HICKEY MEMORIAL MARCH AND VIGIL
Gather at the Block at 9am March to Phillip Street Redfern, "Turanga Block" vigial at site of "TJ's" death. March to Redfern Police Station to leave list of demands regarding the enquiries into his death.