NSW: No verdict yet on doctor's manslaughter trial

AAP General News (Australia)
08-22-2006
NSW: No verdict yet on doctor's manslaughter trial

SYDNEY, Aug 18 AAP - The jury in the trial of a Sydney abortion doctor accused of the
manslaughter of a premature baby boy has not yet reached unanimous verdicts, the NSW Supreme
Court has been told.

Suman Sood, 56, has pleaded not guilty to the charge and to two counts of procuring
an illegal abortion.

It is alleged that in May 2002, she unlawfully gave the drug prostaglandin to a 20-year-old
woman, in preparation for an abortion procedure.

Early the next morning, the woman gave birth on the toilet at home to a four-months
premature baby boy, who was pronounced dead several hours later, the court has been told.

Sood has denied giving the woman prostaglandin or agreeing to terminate her pregnancy.

Justice Carolyn Simpson today said she had received a note from the jury, which retired
to consider its verdicts on Friday afternoon.

"I've been told that you have not been able to reach a unanimous verdict so far," she said.

Justice Simpson said she had the power to discharge the jury, but only if she was satisfied
there was no prospect of genuine agreement being reached.

"Experience has shown that jurors often can agree if given more time to consider and
discuss the issues," she said.

The judge urged the jury to continue deliberations, and to calmly and objectively consider
the evidence.

AAP ka/was/evt/sd

KEYWORD: SOOD

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