Doctor who said mother killed her baby facing police investigation
Sunday Express
Exclusive By Lucy Johnston Health Editor
A top doctor who falsely accused a mother of poisoning her infant with salt is now under police investigation for allegedly contributing to the babies' death through negligence.
The Sunday Express has also discovered that Dr Rodney Gilbert failed to reveal crucial evidence from police that could have prevented a murder trial against Marianne Williams for the death of her 15-month son Joshua Taylor.
Joshua was born 12 weeks prematurely with a serious kidney disease. His twin brother died in the womb.
In February 2004, Dr Gilbert, a Kidney Specialist from Southampton Hospital, raised suspicions that Ms Williams could have been poisoning Joshua with salt after tests showed high levels of sodium in his body. He died of February 27, 2004.
As a result of Dr Gilbert's actions, police launched a murder investigation. Ms Williams was charged with murder and her other son, now seven, was put into the care of her long term partner.
Wiltshire constabulary, which carried out the investigation, had also investigated Angela Cannings, who was acquitted in 2003 of murdering her two sons. Mrs Cannings's original conviction in 2002 was overturned as unsafe.
In October 2006, a jury at Winchester Crown Court unanimously cleared Ms Williams of giving Joshua a fatal salt overdose.
Since Ms William's acquittal, Wiltshire police have been investigating claims claims that Dr Gilbert's treatment of Joshua may have contributed to his death. The results of their inquiry have been sent to the Crown Prosecution Service.
This paper has examined court documents from the murder trial that show Dr Gilbert discovered Joshua's death could have been caused by his illness but failed to tell this to the police or CPS.
The information could have led to the charges against Ms Williams of Southampton being dropped.
The documents show that weeks after Joshua's death and a month after he raised suspicions about salt poisoning. Dr Gilbert made inquiries in a medical cyber "chat room" asking kidney specialists worldwide about Joshua's salt levels.
Professor Michael Moritz from the Children's Hospital Pennsylvania, a world expert in Joshua's kideny condition and children's sodium levels replied that the high salt levels in Joshua could have occured naturally. Later Professor Moritz testified in court saying that he had explained this to Dr Gilbert.
Last nigh Ms Williams told the Sunday Express "I could forgive a doctor for making mistakes, but to know that he may have made a mistake and point the finger at me is unforgivable. I can't explain what it feels like to face a jail sentence for the murder of my child knowing I was innocent and grieving over his death. Even though I have been acquitted the stigma never ends. I would love to have another baby, but I am too scared in case anything went wrong and I was falsely accused"
Penny Mellor, campaigner for parents who have been falsely accused of harming or killing their children said "For two years Rodney Gilbert withheld vital evidence on the possible cause of Joshua's death. It is my view that had this evidence been made available to the police and CPS, the prosecution against Joshua's mother would never have taken place."
Last night a spokesman for the CPS confirmed a police file on Rodney Gilbert had been received and added it would be "making a charging decision in due course".
A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said "Criminal complaints in respect of medical negligence have been made. Following a criminal investigation by Wiltshire Police a file has been sent to the Crown Prosecution Service"
In a statement to the Sunday Express, Radcliffes Le Brasseur, solicitors acting for Dr Gilbert wrote: "Dr Gilbert has been told that allegations were made about him, after the trial, to Wiltshire Police and in consequence they were conducting an inquiry. He has not been interviewed as part of that inquiry and, although he has not been told directly, his understanding is that the Police have received a report from another expert which confirms that he did not cause or contribute to the death of Joshua Taylor and that a report has been made to the Crown Prosecution Service. Their final decision is expected soon. Dr Gilbert denies any wrongdoing."
Jackie Williams, Marianne's mother, 46, said: "If my daughter had not had such enormous support from the local community and lawyers, she would have been jailed." She added "This has devastated our family. Marianne is not the first mother to be wrongly accused of murdering her child without a proer motive or good evidence. We want to make sure that this never happens to anyone else.
