Medical council hears of professor's 'flawed' evidence (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Medical council hears of professor's 'flawed' evidence

AN eminent paediatrician used "flawed and misleading evidence" that helped to wrongly jail former Salisbury woman Sally Clark for the murders of her two baby sons, the General Medical Council heard this week.

Professor Sir Roy Meadow (72) gave erroneous and flawed testimony against the solicitor and ex-South Wilts Grammar School pupil that led to her being convicted of the double murder in 1999, it was alleged at the GMC hearing, which opened on Tuesday.

At Mrs Clark's trial in 1999 Prof Meadow said that the chances of two babies dying of cot death within a family was one in 73 million. But his claim was later rejected by the Royal Statistical Society which said there was no "statistical basis" for the figure.

Mrs Clark served nearly four years of a double life sentence before the convictions were quashed when judges at the Court of Appeal ruled crucial pathology tests were not disclosed at the trial.

But the statistics given by Prof Meadow played a significant part in helping to convict Mrs Clark.

Professor Meadow, of Woodgate Lane, Weeton, Leeds, denies serious professional misconduct but if found guilty could be struck off the medical register.

He also gave evidence that helped convict mothers Angela Cannings and Donna Anthony of murdering their children and was involved in the failed prosecution of Trupti Patel.

All denied murdering their children and were eventually vindicated.

The case has been brought to the GMC by Sally Clark's father, retired Salisbury police chief Frank Lockyer.

The hearing continues.