Poppi Worthington: Dad’s attempt to overturn coroner verdict dismissed
Written by News on 11/12/2018
A High Court judge has dismissed a judicial review brought by Paul Worthington over the death of his 13-month-old daughter Poppi.
Lawyers acting for the former supermarket worker had argued that coroner David Roberts had “overstepped the mark” at the inquest when he recorded the reasons for Poppi’s death.
They said Mr Roberts “did not confine himself to ascertaining and recording how Poppi’s death occurred… but rather trespassed into the circumstances in which it occurred”.
The verdict stated that the toddler was sexually abused in her father’s double bed at the family home in Barrow-in-Furness on 12 December 2012, before she suffocated as she slept next to him in an “unsafe sleeping environment”.
Mr Worthington, 50, had gone to the High Court in Manchester to remove details of Poppi’s sexual abuse and to change the official record of her death.
But Mrs Justice Farbey ruled the coroner’s approach “cannot be faulted” and in a 17-page legal judgement ordered Mr Worthington – who is on legal aid – to pay court costs for bringing the review.
Fiona McGhie, a lawyer representing Poppi’s mother – who cannot be named for legal reasons – said: “The years since Poppi died 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.
“She was left disappointed that Poppi’s father chose to rely on his right not to answer many questions which may have incriminated him at the inquest and while she understands he was entitled to do this, she considers that the coroner’s inquiry was frustrated by this.
“She was very disappointed that he tried to challenge the coroner rather than accepting his findings but is relieved at today’s decision.”
During the inquest, Mr Worthington refused to answer questions about his daughter’s death 252 times, to avoid incriminating himself.
He denies wrongdoing and has never been charged with any offence.
In 2016, Cumbria police apologised to the family for mistakes that were made in the early stages of the investigation that meant the Crown Prosecution Service would not press any charges in relation to Poppi’s death.
(c) Sky News 2018: Poppi Worthington: Dad’s attempt to overturn coroner verdict dismissed
