'Mercury coffee' case accused to face retrial

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-22524882

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Prosecutors are to seek a retrial in the case of a dental nurse accused of poisoning her boss's coffee after a jury failed to reach a verdict.

Ravinder Kaur, 34, was charged with administering a poisonous or noxious substance and stood trial for three weeks at Blackfriars Crown Court.

The alleged victim, Laura Knowles, claimed the coffee was spiked with mercury which caused her seizures.

But Ms Kaur, of Ettrick Drive, Bedford, said she had been set up by colleagues.

Judge Deva Pillay said he would take a majority verdict from the jury but after deliberating for seven hours and 27 minutes they could not reach an outcome on which at least 10 of them agreed.

Judge Pillay discharged them and Ms Kaur now faces a retrial on a date to be fixed.

The alleged attack happened at the Shams Moopen Dental Practice in Shefford, Bedfordshire, after it was claimed Ms Kaur had been given a written warning for her behaviour at work.

The prosecution said she put mercury amalgam - a substance used in dental fillings - into a cup of coffee she made for Ms Knowles, but the defendant claimed she was set up by her co-workers.

Ms Knowles told the jury she experienced stomach cramps and had bouts of dizziness, diarrhoea and vomiting after drinking her coffee, but the court heard she did not suffer any long-term damage.