News

A mother jailed for life more than six years ago for murdering her two young children was cleared by the Court of Appeal this week.

The judges ruled that the conviction of Donna Anthony was unsafe, after hearing that much of the case against her relied on expert evidence from discredited paediatrician Sir Roy Meadow.

The judges said fresh evidence cast doubt on Meadow's claims that two sudden infant deaths should be regarded as suspicious.

Recent research published in medical journal The Lancet showed that when a second sudden infant death occurred the chances of it being from natural causes was between 80 and 90 per cent.

Meadow's position as an expert was undermined following the successful appeal of Angela Cannings who, in 2003, was also cleared of murdering her babies.

Donna Anthony was found guilty of murdering 11-month-old daughter Jordan in 1996 and four-month-old Michael in 1997 but had always claimed both children were victims of cot death.

Her appeal was not opposed.