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| Bristol FGM case against father dropped | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A father accused of allowing his six-year-old daughter to undergo female genital mutilation (FGM) has been acquitted. | A father accused of allowing his six-year-old daughter to undergo female genital mutilation (FGM) has been acquitted. |
| The 29-year-old, who at one point drove a private hire vehicle, is alleged to have confessed to a passenger that he had allowed her to be cut. | |
| However, Judge Julian Lambert described the medical evidence as "wholly inconclusive at its highest". | However, Judge Julian Lambert described the medical evidence as "wholly inconclusive at its highest". |
| He instructed jurors at Bristol Crown Court to find the defendant not guilty. | He instructed jurors at Bristol Crown Court to find the defendant not guilty. |
| The man from Bristol, who cannot be identified in order to protect the child's identity, had been charged with cruelty on a child under the age of 16 - which he had denied. | |
| It was the crown's case an injury to the girl's genitalia was FGM. | It was the crown's case an injury to the girl's genitalia was FGM. |
| The court was told the case relied "largely, if not entirely upon, on an alleged admission made in a taxi journey". | The court was told the case relied "largely, if not entirely upon, on an alleged admission made in a taxi journey". |
| "There is no evidence put by the prosecution as to when or how any alleged mutilation is said to have taken place," Judge Lambert told the court. | "There is no evidence put by the prosecution as to when or how any alleged mutilation is said to have taken place," Judge Lambert told the court. |
| He described the prosecution case against the man, who is originally from Somalia, as "deeply troubling". | He described the prosecution case against the man, who is originally from Somalia, as "deeply troubling". |
| 'Inconsistent' | 'Inconsistent' |
| He also said the account of the key witness - an anti-FGM campaigner - was "inconsistent". | He also said the account of the key witness - an anti-FGM campaigner - was "inconsistent". |
| "X [the girl] has always denied she had any form of mutilation. The defendant says no such thing took place. | "X [the girl] has always denied she had any form of mutilation. The defendant says no such thing took place. |
| "The jury cannot convict the defendant of this offence unless they are sure that [the father] knowingly exposed X." | "The jury cannot convict the defendant of this offence unless they are sure that [the father] knowingly exposed X." |
| Previously the jury had heard how a medical examination of the girl revealed a small lesion - "a couple of millimetres at most" - on her genitalia. | Previously the jury had heard how a medical examination of the girl revealed a small lesion - "a couple of millimetres at most" - on her genitalia. |
| However, two doctors questioned said they could not confirm FGM had taken place. | However, two doctors questioned said they could not confirm FGM had taken place. |
| "We respect the judge's decision and will not be appealing," a spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service said. | "We respect the judge's decision and will not be appealing," a spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service said. |
| The practice of FGM has been illegal in the UK since 1985. | The practice of FGM has been illegal in the UK since 1985. |