NO JUSTICE FOR POPPI
Dad will not be charged for sex abuse tot’s death
POPPI Worthington’s father will not be charged over the 13-month-old’s death.
The Crown Prosecution Service made the decision despite a coroner concluding that Paul Worthington, 50, sexually abused the tot at home in Barrow, Cumbria, shortly before she died in 2012.
Poppi’s mum spoke of her “complete nightmare” and her fears the truth will never come out after inquest findings failed to convince prosecutors.
POPPI Worthington’s devastated mum believes the decision by prosecutors not to look again at her little girl’s death means the truth may be hidden for ever.
The mother’s five-year “complete nightmare” continues after the Crown Prosecution Service said it would not charge the tot’s dad.
The conclusion came even though a coroner found the girl’s father Paul Worthington sexually abused her.
Police “failures” have piled even more misery on Poppi’s mum because they reduced the chances of a conviction.
The CPS, which reviewed the case three times up to 2016, said yesterday it would not carry out a fourth because no new evidence had come to light at the inquest in January.
The coroner concluded 13-month-old Poppi was taken from her cot by her dad and abused by him on his double bed.
The “fit and active” tot died of asphyxiation due to being in an “unsafe sleeping environment” shortly after the attack in December 2012, the court heard.
Coroner David Roberts said he had watched Poppi’s dad closely, but was unable to conclude “definitively” on his honesty – adding his account of what happened in the moments before the death did “not stand up to scrutiny”.
But the CPS said yesterday: “No new witness was called at the inquest whose evidence had not already been considered by the CPS prosecutors.
“The medical issues raised by those witnesses were the same and the evidence given by each in respect of those issues was essentially the same.
“No new evidence emerged... capable of affecting the decisions not to prosecute. Accordingly, there will not be a fourth full review of this case by the CPS.”
The court was told at the inquest – the second such hearing into the tragedy – that only Poppi’s dad knew what happened before the death at their home but that he had declined to help, refusing to answer 252 statements put to him.
Poppi’s mum’s lawyer Fiona McGhie said yesterday: “The latest inquest into Poppi’s death was the third time a court has found, on the balance of probabilities, that Poppi was sexually assaulted prior to death and Poppi’s mother is extremely disappointed that this is not enough for the CPS to undertake a further review of the case.
“The past five years have been a complete nightmare for her. Not knowing what happened to Poppi on that day, and knowing that there were evidence-gathering failures by the police in the very early stages of the investigation has made things even worse.
“Although she is now closer to the devastating truth, it is likely she may never get full closure on exactly what happened.”
John Woodcock, Labour MP for Barrow in Cumbria, where Poppi died, said: “This fresh knock-back was expected but it stings because it is a fresh reminder of the terrible failings in the police investigation that have made a criminal conviction so difficult.”
Cumbria police Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Mark Webster said: “Following HM senior coroner David Roberts’ conclusion on 15th January 2018, the matter of potential prosecution was formally referred to the Crown Prosecution Service.
“We have liaised closely with the CPS over the past two months in relation o this matter.
“Throughout our second investigation officers thoroughly explored every available line of enquiry. I respect the decision made by the CPS.”
Tracy Worthington, 45, the sister of Poppi’s dad, said: “Paul’s not jumping for joy at this decision. His life is in limbo and he cannot even see his kids.”
Mr Worthington moved out of Barrow due to death threats and will remain in hiding, Tracy said.
She added: “He is an innocent man. “He maintains he never did anything wrong... and I believe him as he is not that type of person. But he can’t clear his name as the police lost all the evidence.”
This fresh knock-back is a fresh reminder of failings by the police JOHN WOODCOCK ON THE MUM’S AGONY
A JURY must decide the innocence or guilt of Poppi Worthington’s father, a man who refuses to say what happened the night the sexually abused toddler died.
Not prosecuting him was a heinous mistake after a coroner found he assaulted the girl.
We accept there are legal obstacles after the flawed police investigation.
But justice isn’t achieved when the prime suspect is not cross examined in court.
Were Paul Worthington in the dock, the jury would be entitled to draw an inference from his refusal to answer questions.
We feel for the dead girl’s mother who is left heartbroken and accuses her ex of frustrating justice.
A toddler is dead. How can a suspect not be in the dock?