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Woman with Down's loses abortion law fight Woman with Down's loses abortion law fight
(32 minutes later)
Heidi Crowter says "the fight is not over" after losing her High Court caseHeidi Crowter says "the fight is not over" after losing her High Court case
A woman with Down's syndrome has lost her High Court challenge over a law that allows abortion up to birth for a foetus with the condition.A woman with Down's syndrome has lost her High Court challenge over a law that allows abortion up to birth for a foetus with the condition.
Heidi Crowter, 26, from Coventry, brought the case against the government saying the legislation did not respect her life. Heidi Crowter, 26, from Coventry, brought the case against the government in July, saying the legislation did not respect her life.
Her legal team had argued the rules were unlawfully discriminatory.Her legal team had argued the rules were unlawfully discriminatory.
As two senior judges dismissed the case earlier, Ms Crowter said she would seek to appeal against the judgement. The government maintained there was no evidence the law discriminated against Down's.
As two senior judges dismissed the case earlier, Ms Crowter said she would seek to appeal against the judgement, adding "the fight is not over".
Under current legislation for England, Wales and Scotland, there is a 24-week time limit for abortion, unless "there is a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped", which includes Down's syndrome.Under current legislation for England, Wales and Scotland, there is a 24-week time limit for abortion, unless "there is a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped", which includes Down's syndrome.
The judges ruled that section of the Abortion Act was not unlawful, and it aimed to strike a balance between the rights of the unborn child and of women. The judges found that section of the Abortion Act was not unlawful, and it aimed to strike a balance between the rights of the unborn child and of women.
Ms Crowter, who is married and campaigns under her maiden name, tweeted after their ruling to say she was upset not to win "but the fight is not over". Ms Crowter, who is married and campaigns under her maiden name, tweeted after the ruling to say: "The judges might not think it discriminates against me, the government might not think it discriminates against me, but I am telling you I feel discriminated against."
She said: "The judges might not think it discriminates against me, the government might not think it discriminates against me, but I am telling you I feel discriminated against."
This is a very sad day, but I will keep fighting.This is a very sad day, but I will keep fighting.
Lord Justice Singh and Mrs Justice Lieven said at the outset of their judgement: "The issues which have given rise to this claim are highly sensitive and sometimes controversial.Lord Justice Singh and Mrs Justice Lieven said at the outset of their judgement: "The issues which have given rise to this claim are highly sensitive and sometimes controversial.
"This court cannot enter into those controversies; it must decide the case only in accordance with the law.""This court cannot enter into those controversies; it must decide the case only in accordance with the law."
They said they had heard evidence showing some families would "positively wish to have a child" even knowing it would be born with severe disabilities.
But the judges also said there was clear evidence not every family would react the same way and the ability to provide for a disabled child would "vary significantly".
They added while scientific developments had improved, some conditions would only be found late in a pregnancy, after 24 weeks.
Maire Lea-Wilson (centre) brought the case with Heidi CrowterMaire Lea-Wilson (centre) brought the case with Heidi Crowter
Ms Crowter's lawyers had claimed the legislation was unlawfully discriminatory as it was incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.Ms Crowter's lawyers had claimed the legislation was unlawfully discriminatory as it was incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.
But at the hearing in July, the government said there was no evidence the law discriminated against Down's. But at the hearing in July, the government said not only was there was no evidence of discrimination, provisions were in place to discourage it.
Speaking in the summer, Ms Crowter said the law was offensive, and she wanted to challenge people's perception of Down's syndrome so that they saw "just a normal person".Speaking in the summer, Ms Crowter said the law was offensive, and she wanted to challenge people's perception of Down's syndrome so that they saw "just a normal person".
She also said then her stance was not a campaign against women's right to choose.She also said then her stance was not a campaign against women's right to choose.
'Abortion law for Down's doesn't respect my life''Abortion law for Down's doesn't respect my life'
'See the person behind the extra chromosome''See the person behind the extra chromosome'
Latest news and updates from the West MidlandsLatest news and updates from the West Midlands
Ms Crowter brought the case with another two parties - a child who has Down's, identified in the proceedings only as A, and Máire Lea-Wilson, 33, from Brentford, London, whose son Aidan has the condition.Ms Crowter brought the case with another two parties - a child who has Down's, identified in the proceedings only as A, and Máire Lea-Wilson, 33, from Brentford, London, whose son Aidan has the condition.
Ms Lea-Wilson said she had two boys and felt the judgement "effectively says that my two sons are not viewed as equals in the eyes of the law".Ms Lea-Wilson said she had two boys and felt the judgement "effectively says that my two sons are not viewed as equals in the eyes of the law".
She added she did not regret bringing the case as it had helped raise awareness of the issues, and said she too would appeal against the judgement.She added she did not regret bringing the case as it had helped raise awareness of the issues, and said she too would appeal against the judgement.
"Equality should be for everyone regardless of the number of chromosomes they have," she said."Equality should be for everyone regardless of the number of chromosomes they have," she said.
If you have been affected by issues raised in this story, sources of support are available via the BBC Action Line.If you have been affected by issues raised in this story, sources of support are available via the BBC Action Line.
Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.ukFollow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk