how can that nurse in stockport...

[lcg]

be charged with criminal damage with intent to endanger life? either she killed people, or she didn't? as a nurse, you are responsible for outcomes even by act of omission - so even if she bleats 'i didn't know it would hurt anyone' surely she must be at least guilty of manslaughter? crazy...x

[Eve]

I just saw the news - had a look as they had said they only had got it extended until 9pm to question her. I was wondering that as well. I thought it would have been murder/manslaughter and attempted or similar on the others. Maybe they need to establish a direct causation first or something?

Apparently those charges can carry a life sentence though if convicted.

I just can't understand why someone would do something like that. I saw on the local news (not that far from the hospital) that another patient is seriously ill and her mother is a nurse manager there too, must be a difficult (understatement) time for her!

[boxtops]

It makes me wonder what motivation she might have had to do this thing, if she did it.

[Barmaid]

The problem that the prosecution will have is proving that SHE put the insulin in the saline bags (which they may not be able to do) and that this caused the death of the patients. Rather than fail on a murder/attempted murder charge, the CPS have charged her with the maximum offence they know they can prove.

[boxtops]

that makes sense, barmaid.

[mike11111]

If they can't prove that she put the insulin in the bags, how can they prove criminal damage?

[Maydup]

Nor can they prove she did it intentionally rather than accidentally, unless she confesses.

[Barmaid]

Even if they could prove she did that, they are going to have to prove intent to kill or recklessness for murder, I am guessing that they can't do that either.

I was simply musing on the OP's question Mike - I haven't seen the evidence and I guess CPS will have had regard to the charging standards before they brought charges.

[boxtops]

we don't know what might be in the files or computer that the police retrieved from her home - therefore everything is just speculation atm.

[sammmo]

something about this doesn't seem right.. iether she's innocent or as mad as a hatter.. why would she want to do these terrible things? she looks normal enough to me and people who know her says shes a nice girl.. I suppose we will find out the truth in the comming months..

[DTCwordfan]

maybe it was James Murdoch? - he's either mad or innoncent.

[Frank97]

I haven't really followed the story, however could she have Munchhausen syndrome?

[arwyn]

It is hard to prove.. I was given a pill to start labour by my 1st hubby's girlfriend's mate who was a midwife on the ward where I was in with pregnancy problems. I never knew of either girls at the time so when a nurse comes into you'r room and says "Sister told me to give you this" while she's pouring you a glass of water you just take it.
Hence I lost the baby, it was years later when i remembered where I had saw them both as hubby used to bring her when he came to visit and she would chat to her mate while he spared me 10 mins..
I knew I could never prove a thing so she got away with it..

[Nibble]

At least they've charged her with murder tonight!!!!

[Eve]

I haven't studied criminal law since uni so trying to think back but it's a bit of a blur now.

Could it be some kind of break in the chain of causation if she put the insulin in the bags bit didn't actually administer the tampered with saline to the patients who then died and didn't necesarily have any control over who the saline was given to - I also assume the victims weren't targetted specifically if those kind of circusmtances?

I guess it depends on the circumstances which I imagine will come out in time.

Beverley Allit springs to mind though didn't she kill more directly (in a more legal sense I mean) if that makes sense??

[Eve]

Nibble, she has been charged but not with murder...

http://news.sky.com/s...t_Deaths_In_Stockport

[mike11111]

For a murder charge to succeed you don't have to prove an intent to kill, merely an intent to cause GBH, or at least that was the law when I studied it about 20 years ago.

[DTCwordfan]

Not guilty until proven - more Joanna Yates speculation again??????

If the police had it stitched up, they wouldnt be maintaining the heavy security around the hospital, would they?

[Nibble]

Ah! True jemma, my mistake... can't jump to conclusions, irrespective of feeling/etc..

[Eve]

The local news suggested things were getting more relaxed and back to normal - don't think they will achieve that for a while though!

Someone mentioned the other day a rumour they were considering the possibility of whether whoever did it acted alone. Maybe the link with her mother working at the hospital.