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Doctor cleared of Katrina deaths | Doctor cleared of Katrina deaths |
(30 minutes later) | |
A New Orleans surgeon accused of killing four patients in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina will not face trial, a grand jury has decided. | A New Orleans surgeon accused of killing four patients in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina will not face trial, a grand jury has decided. |
Prosecutors in New Orleans had sought to try cancer surgeon Anna Pou for murder and conspiracy to murder. | Prosecutors in New Orleans had sought to try cancer surgeon Anna Pou for murder and conspiracy to murder. |
Dr Pou denied using drugs to kill patients at Memorial Medical Center after storm waters broke levees and flooded much of the city. | Dr Pou denied using drugs to kill patients at Memorial Medical Center after storm waters broke levees and flooded much of the city. |
At least 34 people died at the hospital in the aftermath of the 2005 hurricane. | At least 34 people died at the hospital in the aftermath of the 2005 hurricane. |
Patients at the 317-bed hospital spent four days stranded in floodwater, with no electricity, after Hurricane Katrina struck Louisiana. | Patients at the 317-bed hospital spent four days stranded in floodwater, with no electricity, after Hurricane Katrina struck Louisiana. |
Morphine accusation | Morphine accusation |
Dr Pou was accused along with two nurses, Lori Budo and Cheri Landry, both of whom had charges against them - which they also denied - dropped in June. | |
The Memorial Medical Center was cut off by floods for daysThe pair testified to the grand jury under legal guidelines that prevented their testimony from being used to incriminate them. | The Memorial Medical Center was cut off by floods for daysThe pair testified to the grand jury under legal guidelines that prevented their testimony from being used to incriminate them. |
Lawyers for all three medical workers said they had worked heroically to treat patients instead of evacuating the hospital during the chaotic days after Hurricane Katrina struck. | Lawyers for all three medical workers said they had worked heroically to treat patients instead of evacuating the hospital during the chaotic days after Hurricane Katrina struck. |
Dr Pou and the two nurses were charged with four counts of second-degree murder. | Dr Pou and the two nurses were charged with four counts of second-degree murder. |
They were accused of giving four patients - two in their 90s and two in their 60s - lethal doses of morphine and a sedative. | They were accused of giving four patients - two in their 90s and two in their 60s - lethal doses of morphine and a sedative. |
But all three protested their innocence and won support from within the local community. | |
"[The grand jury] concluded that no crime had been committed," New Orleans District Attorney Eddie Jordan said after the decision was made. | |
"And that is the decision of our grand jury, and I think justice has been served after due process." | |
In all, more than 970 people are known to have died in Louisiana in the aftermath of Katrina, and more than 200 in neighbouring Mississippi. | In all, more than 970 people are known to have died in Louisiana in the aftermath of Katrina, and more than 200 in neighbouring Mississippi. |
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