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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Pair cleared over Jayden Wray death | Pair cleared over Jayden Wray death |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Two parents have been cleared at the Old Bailey of killing their four-month-old son, who was suffering from rickets. | 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. |
| 'Pre-judged' | 'Pre-judged' |
| Experts had been unable to agree if the injury was caused by medical complications or trauma. | Experts had been unable to agree if the injury was caused by medical complications or trauma. |
| The defence maintained the seizures and fractures were linked to rickets. | |
| 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." |
| 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 what the cause was. | |
| 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. |
| Weak bones | Weak bones |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| When Ms Al-Alas was asked if she or Mr Wray had shaken the baby or injured him, she said: "Never." | When Ms Al-Alas was asked if she or Mr Wray had shaken the baby or injured him, she said: "Never." |
| 'Tragic loss' | 'Tragic loss' |
| Mr Wray told the jury he had been "very excited at the thought of being a parent" when he found out his girlfriend was pregnant. | Mr Wray told the jury he had been "very excited at the thought of being a parent" when he found out his girlfriend was pregnant. |
| After the baby 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. | After the baby 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. |
| Outside the court, Mr Al-Alas's solicitor Jenny Wiltshire said the pair "can now be allowed to grieve the tragic loss of their son who they loved and cherished". | Outside the court, Mr Al-Alas's solicitor Jenny Wiltshire said the pair "can now be allowed to grieve the tragic loss of their son who they loved and cherished". |