Robert Fitt, led by Hossein Zahir K.C., acted for M.B., who was acquitted in November by a jury at Inner London Crown Court of causing or allowing the death of a child, contrary to section 5 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 and cruelty to a child, contrary to section 1 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933. He had previously been acquitted of murder by the order of the judge when the Crown accepted a plea from his wife to manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility.

M.B. was alleged to have caused the death of his 11-week old daughter when he failed to prevent his wife injuring the child and then failed to obtain medical attention for her after she sustained a catalogue of injuries including a skull fracture. The prosecution had argued that text messages to faith healers showed that M.B. had been aware of his daughter’s injuries for several days prior to her death. The case featured complex medical and pathology evidence and the precise cause of death was never established.

The trial, in October and November 2023, concluded with the jury unanimously acquitting M.B.

Robert was instructed by Mary Monson Solicitors.