Poppi Worthington - lest we forget

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Prosecutors refuse to reconsider charges in Poppi Worthington case as coroner prepares to deliver verdict



Hayley Dixon
14 JANUARY 2018 • 6:00AM

Prosecutors have refused to reconsider charges in the case of Poppi Worthington as a coroner prepares to deliver his verdict on what happened to the 13-month-old before her death.

As the five-year fight for justice for Poppi, who a High Court judge has ruled was probably sexually assaulted before her death, nears its end the Crown Prosecution Service(CPS) said that there were no plans to look at the case again.

Senior coroner for Cumbria David Roberts has been deliberating over the evidence heard throughout her inquest for almost a month and will deliver the final verdict on Monday.

On the balance of probabilities he could rule that Poppi was unlawfully killed, or deliver a narrative verdict setting out what he believes happened in her final hours.

This fresh inquest was ordered by the High Court after the controversial first hearing in 2014, held by a different coroner, was shrouded in secrecy and lasted just seven minutes.

But spokesman for the CPS, who had said that they would be watching the events of the inquest closely, said that no new evidence had come to light during the hearings.

The spokesman added: “It has been looked at twice both in terms of after the original police investigation and then later after the victim’s right to review. There are no current plans to look at it again.”

The coroner can order the CPS to review that decision, but sources say that it is “unlikely” that he will use those powers.

Poppi was just 13 months old when she was heard to scream out before her father Paul brought her lifeless body downstairs in the family home in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria on the morning of December 12 2012.

During the inquest Mr Worthington, who denies any wrongdoing, refused to answer a total of 252 questions over four hours about Poppi’s final moments, during which it was pointed out that he is the only person who knows what happened.



Relying on Coroner's rules, which mean that a person does not have to answer any question which might incriminate them, he refused to respond to questions about whether he had abused his daughter or put his hand over her mouth.

It has already been concluded by a High Court judge that he probably sexually assaulted her. No charges have been brought as a litany of failings in the police investigation means that there is “insufficient evidence” to bring a criminal case.

The refusal of the CPS to look again at the evidence is likely to revive calls for ministers to order a full public inquiry into the case.

Karen Bradley, then a Home Office Minister, refused calls for such a hearing in early 2016, saying: “We do need to learn lessons from this case but we need to wait for that second inquest.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...use-reconsider-charges-poppiworthington-case/

How do my fellow PP members feel about this now that it looks like it will continue to make barely a ripple in the news a few years on from the horrific incident?

 

[s28]

too grim to even think about

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Feel sick reading about the details of this case - unbelievable how the so called father got away with it.

Anyone here have access to the Times and is willing to post this article in it's entirety?

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/...ton-died-after-sex-attack-by-father-5dkxht9dc

Thanks.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Prosecutor fears toddler Poppi Worthington died after sex attack by father

As the inquest winds up, a former CPS chief says a flawed police investigation prevented him from bringing charges



The prosecutor in charge of the case of Poppi Worthington, a “bubbly and funny” toddler who died in 2012, says he believes she was subjected to a sex attack by her father before her death — but police failures prevented a trial.

Nazir Afzal was head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for the northwest when he approved the decision not to charge Paul Worthington. The inquest into Poppi’s death is due to conclude tomorrow.

“I had a strong suspicion that Poppi died after being sexually abused by her father,” Afzal told The Sunday Times. “I was given a case file by the police that had so many gaps that I was left with no choice. I could not approve charging Worthington based on the evidence the police investigation produced.”

In three weeks of evidence just before Christmas, the Cumbria coroner, David Roberts, heard how 13-month-old Poppi screamed out during the night at her home in Barrow-in-Furness. She arrived at hospital bleeding badly and died.

A series of mistakes by Cumbria police meant the prime suspect was never charged. Worthington strongly denies wrongdoing. The police errors also mean that, if innocent, he is unlikely to be able to clear his name.

Afzal’s view of Cumbria police in 2012 is damning. “Work carried out was simply not of the same standard as other forces in the northwest, such as Greater Manchester police . . . I am still deeply frustrated no charges were brought in this case and many at the CPS feel the same way. But with the evidence I had, I could not say beyond all reasonable doubt that Worthington had attacked Poppi.”

The inquest heard an admission from Detective Inspector Amanda Sadler, who led the first police investigation, that she was not trained to do the job.

Police failed to seal Poppi’s house quickly enough, failed to seize evidence such as Worthington’s bedsheets, failed to find Poppi’s last nappy, failed to take swabs from Worthington until 11 hours after her death and failed to find a laptop on which he was watching pornography hours before Poppi died.

The coroner’s task is made harder by conflicting evidence given at the inquest. Dr Alison Armour, a Home Office pathologist for 30 years, who carried out a post-mortem examination of Poppi, said she believed the toddler had been attacked. She said Poppi’s injuries could have been caused by penetrative assault and her death by cardiac arrest or asphyxia.

However, another pathologist, Dr Nat Cary, told the inquest there was no clear evidence of trauma. He formed his opinion from photographs and slides. He said he could not “absolutely exclude” penetration, but would expect obvious injury and there was “nothing of the sort”. Other doctors told the inquest they could not say for certain that Poppi had been sexually assaulted.

Paul Worthington’s sister, Tracy, believes he is innocent. She said most of his close friends thought the same.

Last week, a birthday card from Worthington was on Poppi’s grave, which has no headstone. It reads: “You are always in my thoughts . . . Have a beautiful birthday playing with all the other special boys and girls up there. Daddy.”

Worthington refused to answer questions at the inquest, citing his right not to incriminate himself. “Because of the police we’ll never know the truth,” said Tracy Worthington. “He was told by his lawyers not to answer all those questions.” She added: “He wants to know how Poppi died. I don’t think we’ll get that answer tomorrow.”

.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Thanks @Cpt.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

No problem, I read it in The Times this morning but I usually find an alternative if possible because of the paywall.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

The coroner has given his verdict.

Poppi Worthington was sexually abused by father, coroner rules
Toddler suffocated soon after being assaulted, says coroner, but Paul Worthington is unlikely ever to face trial

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...n-was-sexually-abused-by-father-coroner-rules

That's now a family court judge and a coroner who have said, after reviewing the evidence, that he's guilty. But it will never go to a criminal court because the burden of proof is far higher there and because the police didn't do their jobs properly (as the IPCC have confirmed) that evidence doesn't exist. Shocking!

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

You think that's shocking? The police officer who was criticised over the handling of the case is in line for promotion!

Cumbria Deputy Chief Constable - condemned over force investigation - in line for top job

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...n-chief-constable-investigation-a8185016.html