Two Whitehaven men convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence over death of mother
The trial lasted nearly a month.
Last updated 19th Feb 2024
A jury has returned a guilty verdict on the charges of manslaughter by gross negligence for both Robert Christopher Morgan, 61, and 53 year old David Holyoak today at Carlisle.
The pair denied manslaughter of 71 year old Dorothy Morgan, Robert's wife and David's mother.
Dorothy was admitted to hospital in January 2021, malnourished and weighing only four and a half stone.
She died a short time later.
Both Moran and Holyoak lived with Dorothy in Whitehaven, and the prosecution argued that the pair failed to take care of her and left her to die.
The pair argued that they were just doing as Dorothy wished and that no medical help be sought.
Today, at Carlisle Crown Court, a jury decided that the pair were guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence.
They will be sentenced on 25th March.
Gail O’Brien, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West complex casework unit said:
"This is one of the worst cases of manslaughter by gross negligence I have seen.
“It would have been clear to both men that Mrs Morgan was suffering from a lack of basic care and medical attention, still they failed to call for assistance until it was too late.
“The CPS worked hard with Cumbria Constabulary to build a strong case ensuring that all the medical and pathology evidence was before the court. The jury agreed with the CPS that both men were guilty of manslaughter.
“My thoughts are very much with the family of Dorothy Morgan.”
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