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Pair cleared over Jayden Wray death | Pair cleared over Jayden Wray death |
(40 minutes later) | |
Two parents have been cleared at the Old Bailey of killing their four-month-old son, who was suffering from rickets. | |
Chana Al-Alas, 19, and Rohan Wray, 22, from Islington, north London, denied murdering their child and causing or allowing his death. | Chana Al-Alas, 19, and Rohan Wray, 22, from Islington, north London, denied murdering their child and causing or allowing his death. |
Jayden Wray died from a head injury in July 2009. | Jayden Wray died from a head injury in July 2009. |
A jury returned not guilty verdicts on the direction of the judge after prosecutors withdrew the charges. | A jury returned not guilty verdicts on the direction of the judge after prosecutors withdrew the charges. |
Experts had been unable to agree if the injury was caused by medical complications or trauma. | |
Judge Stephen Kramer said: "The further and deeper one delves into the evidence, the more complex it becomes. | Judge Stephen Kramer said: "The further and deeper one delves into the evidence, the more complex it becomes. |
"We could not have got to this stage without a proper investigation, examination and exploration of the evidence on all sides." | "We could not have got to this stage without a proper investigation, examination and exploration of the evidence on all sides." |
'Pre-judged' | |
The couple, who were 16 and 19 when Jayden was born, hugged and kissed when they learned their ordeal was over. | The couple, who were 16 and 19 when Jayden was born, hugged and kissed when they learned their ordeal was over. |
The court heard Jayden died from brain damage and swelling but nearly 60 medical, professional and expert witnesses were unable to agree the cause. | The court heard Jayden died from brain damage and swelling but nearly 60 medical, professional and expert witnesses were unable to agree the cause. |
The prosecution said the brain damage could only have been caused by the trauma of Jayden having been shaken or his head having been hit against something. | The prosecution said the brain damage could only have been caused by the trauma of Jayden having been shaken or his head having been hit against something. |
But the defence said it was only after Jayden died that it was discovered he had rickets owing to an undiagnosed vitamin D deficiency in his mother. | |
This would have caused him to have weak bones, including a weak skull, and could have caused a series of fractures. | |
The medical condition was also blamed for complications which led to his death. | |
Sally O'Neill, defending, said Jayden was a much-loved and cared for baby and that his parents had been "pre-judged" by doctors and police. | |
They had taken him to see doctors and to hospital when worried about his health but medical staff had not detected anything wrong with him. | |
After he stopped taking his bottle in July 2009, they took him to hospital and he died after having seizures and being transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital. |