CARE HOME ABUSE TRIAL CONCLUDES WITH MIXED VERDICTS
Indrannee and Meghadeven Pumbien, the former owners and managers of Briarwood Care Home in Preston and Niphawan Berry, a former care worker, faced an indictment containing 19 counts including charges of ill-treatment and willful neglect of persons who lacked capacity under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and perverting the course of justice.
After a six-week trial, Mr Pumbien and Ms Berry were each convicted of one count of ill-treatment (failing to obtain medical attention for a patient who had suffered scalding injuries). Mrs Pumbien was convicted of three counts of ill-treatment.
During the course of the trial, the judge had directed three not guilty verdicts after legal argument was heard on two counts of ill-treatment and one count of perverting the course of justice.
The jury also returned nine unanimous verdicts of not guilty on a count alleging verbal abuse, two counts alleging forced feeding of patients, three counts alleging the pushing patients, a further count relating to lifting and handling techniques and the remaining count of perverting the course of justice. The jury was unable to reach verdicts in relation five other counts.
Alistair Webster QC, Dan Thomas and Joe Boyd were privately instructed by Peter Turner at Forbes Solicitors on behalf Mr and Mrs Pumbien. Richard Dawson was instructed by Sean Joyce at Stephensons Solicitors on behalf of Ms. Berry. Rachel Cooper was instructed by the CPS Complex Case Unit as led junior counsel for the Crown.
Sentence will take place on 2nd October 2015.
Watch and read more here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-33964749
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0663bz3/north-west-tonight-18082015