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'Mercury coffee' dental boss had 'seizures', court told | 'Mercury coffee' dental boss had 'seizures', court told |
(31 minutes later) | |
A dental boss who was allegedly given a coffee laced with mercury by a nurse suffered from seizures three days afterwards, a trial has heard. | A dental boss who was allegedly given a coffee laced with mercury by a nurse suffered from seizures three days afterwards, a trial has heard. |
Ravinder Kaur, 34, of Ettrick Drive, Bedford, denies administering a poisonous or noxious substance with intent on 16 March 2012. | Ravinder Kaur, 34, of Ettrick Drive, Bedford, denies administering a poisonous or noxious substance with intent on 16 March 2012. |
Blackfriars Crown Court heard boss Laura Knowles went to hospital and lost consciousness after returning to work. | Blackfriars Crown Court heard boss Laura Knowles went to hospital and lost consciousness after returning to work. |
The 36-year-old said she also had bouts of dizziness, diarrhoea and vomiting. | The 36-year-old said she also had bouts of dizziness, diarrhoea and vomiting. |
The attack is alleged to have happened at the Shams Moopen Dental Practice in Shefford, Bedfordshire, after Ms Kaur was given a final written warning for her behaviour at work. | The attack is alleged to have happened at the Shams Moopen Dental Practice in Shefford, Bedfordshire, after Ms Kaur was given a final written warning for her behaviour at work. |
The prosecution claims Ms Kaur put mercury amalgam - a substance used in dental fillings - into a cup of coffee she made for practice manager Ms Knowles, but the defendant believes she was set up by colleagues. | |
After sipping the coffee Ms Knowles threw the rest in the sink, the court heard, leaving a grey sludge. Ms Knowles said it felt like she was having "severe period pains", but her symptoms worsened. | |
'Affecting patients' | |
Ms Knowles said that over the weekend she had bouts of dizziness, diarrhoea and vomiting. | Ms Knowles said that over the weekend she had bouts of dizziness, diarrhoea and vomiting. |
On her return to work the following Monday, Ms Knowles was sent to hospital after having a seizure - "the type people suffer when they have an epileptic fit", according to Rupert Bowers, defending. She also lost consciousness. | |
Ms Knowles stated the surgery at the time was "less than harmonious" and that Ms Kaur's relationship with a fellow nurse had "deteriorated so badly it was affecting patients coming into the surgery". | |
The court also heard Ms Knowles was spoken to by practice owner Dr Shams Moopen about a letter from a nurse complaining about Ms Knowles' "preferential treatment" of Ms Kaur. | |
But despite the discontent in the surgery, she said she thought she was on good terms with the defendant, saying, "I considered myself to be Ravi's friend and mentor." | |
Mr Bowers, defending, said a letter sent to Ms Kaur by Dr Moopen following a disciplinary meeting on 13 March - described as a final warning - was withdrawn by him on 29 March and he apologised. | |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |