AUSTRALIA: Judge throws out manslaughter case against careworkers

MELBOURNE (ABC News), August 19, 2008: A Melbourne judge has found that two Victorian Government careworkers accused of manslaughter, have no case to answer. Department of Human Services employees Kenneth Conduit and Joanne Pace sat crying in the dock as Justice Lex Lasry made his ruling. They had pleaded not guilty to manslaughter over the death of one of their patients, 67-year-old Kevin Chuter. Mr Chuter died after drinking a bottle of liniment at a Melton football ground in 2005. The prosecution alleged Mr Chuter was not adequately supervised, and did not receive prompt medical help. After a trial lasting more than three weeks, Justice Lasry directed the jury to reach a verdict of not guilty. Outside the court, Ms Pace hugged her barrister, saying she could not believe it was all over. © 2008 ABC