Angela Gay

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Angela and Ian Gay were convicted of manslaughter following the death of a child they had been considering adopting, three-year old Christian Blewitt. They were five weeks into a trial adoption with Christian when he collapsed and died at their home. Tests showed evidence of trauma to Christian’s head, severe hypernatraemia ( high levels of sodium in the blood) and an area of infarction (death of the muscle) in the left ventricle of his heart (which had probably occured while he was in hospital). The prosecution argued that the Gays force-fed Christian salt as a punishment. The prosecution relied heavily on Professor Roy Meadows work on non-accidential salt poisoning. On appeal, Professor Meadow’s work was doubted and it was suggested that it was much more likely an issue with Christian’s kidneys (reset osmostat) that was the cause of death. Dr. Glun Walters, giving the new evidence, was sure that the cause of death was not salt poisoning. The court concluded that had this evidence been placed before the jury at trial they may have reached a different conclusion and quashed the convictions. Angela and Ian Gay were both found not guilty at a retrial.

View Press (www.theguardian.com)

View Press (innocent.org.uk)

View Press (www.dailymail.co.uk)

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