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Sex-selection abortion case 'not in public interest' | Sex-selection abortion case 'not in public interest' |
(about 17 hours later) | |
Two doctors accused of agreeing to arrange sex-selective abortions have had a private prosecution brought against them by pro-life campaigners blocked. | Two doctors accused of agreeing to arrange sex-selective abortions have had a private prosecution brought against them by pro-life campaigners blocked. |
Doctors Palaniappan Rajmohan and Prabha Sivaraman were filmed in an undercover sting by the Daily Telegraph. | Doctors Palaniappan Rajmohan and Prabha Sivaraman were filmed in an undercover sting by the Daily Telegraph. |
But the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said campaigner Aisling Hubert's case was "not in the public interest". | But the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said campaigner Aisling Hubert's case was "not in the public interest". |
Ms Hubert said she would consider an appeal. | Ms Hubert said she would consider an appeal. |
'Undated statement' | 'Undated statement' |
The two doctors, from Birmingham and South Yorkshire, were secretly filmed in 2012 by reporters posing as pregnant women seeking an abortion because they were expecting girls. | The two doctors, from Birmingham and South Yorkshire, were secretly filmed in 2012 by reporters posing as pregnant women seeking an abortion because they were expecting girls. |
The practice is illegal under the 1967 Abortion Act. | The practice is illegal under the 1967 Abortion Act. |
Ms Hubert launched her own prosecution in 2013 after the CPS decided not to pursue charges against the pair. | Ms Hubert launched her own prosecution in 2013 after the CPS decided not to pursue charges against the pair. |
But the doctors exercised their right to ask the CPS to assess the evidence and halt the prosecutions. | But the doctors exercised their right to ask the CPS to assess the evidence and halt the prosecutions. |
In both cases, it said, Ms Hubert relied on a "single unsigned and undated witness statement" from herself. | In both cases, it said, Ms Hubert relied on a "single unsigned and undated witness statement" from herself. |
Private prosecutors acting on her behalf also sought to produce exhibits including extracts of the covert footage, but the CPS said they were "heavily edited and reduced in length". | Private prosecutors acting on her behalf also sought to produce exhibits including extracts of the covert footage, but the CPS said they were "heavily edited and reduced in length". |
It could be argued the manner in which they were edited did not give a "fair and balanced representation of events", it said. | It could be argued the manner in which they were edited did not give a "fair and balanced representation of events", it said. |
The CPS said it had reviewed Ms Hubert's evidence and exhibits gathered during its own consideration of the case. | |
"Taking in to account all the other evidence we are aware of, whilst there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction, this is truly very finely balanced indeed," it said. | "Taking in to account all the other evidence we are aware of, whilst there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction, this is truly very finely balanced indeed," it said. |
"However, the public interest considerations in not pursuing a prosecution outweigh those in favour." | "However, the public interest considerations in not pursuing a prosecution outweigh those in favour." |
'Dangled over heads' | 'Dangled over heads' |
Ms Hubert, 21, from Hove, said the decision set a "dangerous precedent" and had "opened the door to gender selection abortion in this nation". | Ms Hubert, 21, from Hove, said the decision set a "dangerous precedent" and had "opened the door to gender selection abortion in this nation". |
Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, which had backed the private prosecution, said it would look for ways to appeal. | Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, which had backed the private prosecution, said it would look for ways to appeal. |
"What more evidence do we need than someone caught on camera? And still the prosecution authorities turn a blind eye." | "What more evidence do we need than someone caught on camera? And still the prosecution authorities turn a blind eye." |
Ann Furedi, chief executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, said she was "disappointed" it had taken so long to end the doctors' "three-year ordeal". | Ann Furedi, chief executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, said she was "disappointed" it had taken so long to end the doctors' "three-year ordeal". |
"Abortion doctors cannot continue working in an environment where the threat of prosecution is so regularly dangled over their heads by a small number of people opposed to what they do." | "Abortion doctors cannot continue working in an environment where the threat of prosecution is so regularly dangled over their heads by a small number of people opposed to what they do." |
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