According to a report in the SUNDAY TIMES (22nd Jan 2006) dozens of parents imprisoned for killing their children will be denied a chance to challenge their convictions, in a ruling set to reignite the debate over the validity of shaken baby syndrome.
A review of 88 such cases ordered by Lord Goldsmith, the attorney-general, is expected to say only four of the convictions merit reinvestigation. The result, to be published next month, has angered lawyers, doctors and parents protesting their innocence. They say they were denied the far-reaching review which in 2003 enabled Sally Clark, a solicitor, to overturn her wrongful conviction for murdering her two babies.
According to one clinician, no pathologist was asked to help with interpreting complex medical reports in the review. Chris Milroy, professor of forensic pathology at Sheffield University, said he believed it was limited to examining only the clinical evidence presented in court.
The attorney-general’s department declined to comment on the alleged shortcomings of the review (more)