Pair on manslaughter charge bailed till 2019

Tuesday 23 October 2018

Two health workers, charged with the unlawful killing of a young woman, have been released on bail until January.

Lauren Ellis died aged 22, while under the care of the Oberlands mental health facility last year.

Pictured: The entrance to the Oberlands.

Former Oberlands workers, Rory McDermott, 31, and Naomi Prestige, 30, both appeared before Guernsey's Magistrate briefly this morning, only confirming their names before the judge accepted their next appearance would be for committal to the Royal Court in January 2019.

Although no details of the events leading to charges were heard in court today, Judge Cherry McMillen confirmed that due to the sensitive nature of the case reporting restrictions would be put in place, which meant that only the names of defendants, their ages and charges are allowed to be published.

After the hearing both defendants were released on bail with the condition that they must notify the police if they intend to travel away from their confirmed jurisdiction of residence, which was Guernsey for Mr McDermott and the UK for Ms Prestige.

The pair will appear back before Guernsey's Magistrate Court in January 2019, where due to the seriousness of the charges against them their case will be committed to the Royal Court for a trial.

Pictured top: The Princess Elizabeth Hospital.