Father says getting help for daughter ‘against her wish’
A93-YEAR-OLD hoarder has told a court he did not seek medical help for his immobile and vulnerable daughter because he did not want to go against her wishes.
Ralph Burdett, alongside his 59-year-old son Philip, is alleged to have left Julie Burdett to suffer “dreadful” injuries “surrounded by filth and squalor” for around two weeks in January 2019.
Leicester Crown Court heard Julie had fallen from her bed days before her death but her father did not move her because he was “afraid of trying and then dropping her”.
She weighed just 4st 10lb when paramedics were finally called to her home in the city.
The court previously heard Julie died from extreme ulcerations, and an expert who examined the body said she had “never seen such a severe level of pressure damage” in her 40-year career.
Burdett told jurors he had no idea
of the extent of his daughter’s injuries and was “shocked” when pictures were shown to him during the trial.
Questioning Burdett about the position Julie was found in by paramedics, defence barrister Balraj Bhatia QC said: “Can you remember how long she had been in that position?”
“It would have been two days – a very short time,” the defendant responded.
Mr Bhatia continued: “Did you, of your own initiative, try to move her?”
“No because I knew I wouldn’t be able to do it. I would be afraid of trying and then dropping her. I could have done more damage than good.”
Continuing to question Burdett, who sat in the witness box on Tuesday, Mr Bhatia asked: “Was there anything that cried out in your mind that said ‘forget what she says, I need to get her some help’?”
“I didn’t because I didn’t want to go against her wishes. She was so determined that I didn’t call for help, I couldn’t do anything. That was the dilemma.”
“What did you think Julie’s reaction would be if you went against her wishes?”
“She wouldn’t like it at all.” Asked if he had any idea about the sores on her body, Mr Burdett, who followed proceedings through a hearing loop, said: “Seeing those pictures was quite a shock to me.
“I had no idea she had anything like that at all.”
Mr Bhatia continued: “In the last few days, Ralph, did you have any idea Julie was dying?”
“No.”
“If you simply listened to Julie telling you she didn’t need any medical help, she didn’t need to go to hospital – if something were to happen to her, how would you feel about that?”
“You never expect death, you always hope for the best.
“In this case, it went against what I thought was going to happen.
“I had no idea she was getting to that position.”
Mr Bhatia continued: “Was there anything more you could have done to make Julie’s life more comfortable?”
“Not that I can think of.
“If anything was suggested to me, I would have tried to do it.”
“How did you feel when you were charged with neglecting Julie?”
“I felt that was unfair.” Burdett, and his son Philip, of Oakside Crescent, Leicester, both deny manslaughter.
The trial continues.