Mother cleared of smothering babies

A mother who was detained for smothering her two children on evidence from nowdiscredited paediatrician Sir Roy Meadow has been cleared of all charges.

The Crown Prosecution Service has dropped plans for a retrial in the case of Julie Ferris, who was ordered to be held in a psychiatric hospital in 2001 after Professor Meadow acted as an expert witness at her trial.

The professor, who is to face a General Medical Council hearing next year, was also involved in the trials of Sally Clark, Trupti Patel and Angela Cannings, all accused and later cleared of killing their children. Professor Meadows gave evidence suggesting that the women were suffering from Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy.

Miss Ferris, from Aston, Birmingham, has always maintained her innocence but was judged mentally unfit to take part in her trial at Birmingham Crown Court in June 2000 after being deemed to have a mental age of six.

She was released on bail by the Court of Appeal in May last year pending a retrial, after evidence that the babies could have died from a rare form of epilepsy.

In a statement, the CPS declined to confirm that the 34-year-old would not face a retrial, but it is understood that it has informed Miss Ferris's solicitor of the decision.

A CPS spokesman said: "All we can say at the moment is that we have written to both the court and the solicitors, but we are not confirming any of the details of the letter.

"We are waiting for a date in the courts so that we can put the matter before them."

Miss Ferris believes her nine-month-old daughter Hayley, who died in November 1993, and eightmonthold son Brandon, who died in May 1998, both suffered fatal fits.

She said that the ruling meant her "nightmare" was over, after four years spent in bail hostels, secure units, hospitals and prison.

"Now I can start rebuilding my life," she added. "I want to thank everyone who believed in my innocence. I was dragged around the country, miles away from my family. I was branded a child-killer and beaten up by other inmates.

"At one stage, the authorities told me I would never be free unless I agreed to be sterilised to stop me having more children. I refused because I knew I was innocent."

Andrew Wesley, her solicitor, said he had received a letter from the CPS: "It said that following a review, they are not going to pursue Julie's case."

Miss Ferris could now be entitled to compensation for the three years she spent in custody.

Her sister, Betty, 50, said: "This has split our family.

"People trust what doctors and police officers say - but I always knew how much Julie loved those kids."