Not Guilty

Friday 27 September 2019

Two mental health nurses have been found not guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence following the death of a patient at Guernsey's Oberlands facility.

Lauren Ellis died at the island's mental health facility, adjacent to the main Princess Elizabeth Hospital, in October 2017.

She was a known high risk patient who had admitted herself to the Crevichon Ward after a spate of serious self harming, which had seen her require treatment at the Emergency Department. 

While on Crevichon Ward Miss Ellis was able to take her own life. 

Rory McDermott and Naomi Prestidge were both on duty at the time of Miss Ellis' death. They have both admitted failing to carry out a number of checks on her, which should have been made every 15 minutes.

However, today Guernsey's Royal Court found both Mr McDermott and Ms Prestidge not guilty, by a majority of 7-2.

More to follow...