Juror queries baby death verdict

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A juror has expressed doubts a childminder jailed for shaking an 11-month old baby to death was guilty.

Speaking on BBC Five Live, the juror in the trial of Keran Henderson said a "miscarriage of justice had occurred".

Henderson, 43, of Iver Heath, Bucks, was last month jailed for three years for the manslaughter of Maeve Sheppard on a majority verdict.

But complicated medical evidence had prevented the jury from making informed decisions, the juror claimed.

At the end of a five week trial, and deliberating for more than 12 hours, the jury at Reading Crown Court found Henderson guilty of the baby's manslaughter.

I will never know as long as I live whether the verdict was right or not because I haven't, we haven't, got all this medical expertise Juror

Maeve, whose parents Ruth and Mark live in Slough, Berks, was taken unconscious to hospital in 2005 from Henderson's home where she was being looked after.

The court had heard from experts who said injuries were caused by the baby's neck being violently snapped back and forth.

However, the juror said the verdict, based on a 10-2 majority, was unsafe as the medical evidence was too complicated for jurors to assess.

She told the BBC: "I believe that a miscarriage of justice has occurred and there's nothing I can do about it.

"I don't think you can get a fair outcome.

"I will never know as long as I live whether the verdict was right or not because I haven't, we haven't, got all this medical expertise, and I think if the medics can't even decide between themselves, what chance do we have?"