Haringey social worker in court

The former Haringey social worker who is accused of refusing to
co-operate with the Victoria Climbie inquiry, appeared before
Camberwell magistrates on Wednesday.

Carole Baptiste refused to accept a hand-delivered summons
ordering her to appear at the inquiry, the court was told.

Prosecution counsel Brian Altman said that Baptiste had run away
from an official trying to deliver her summons a week before she
was scheduled to give evidence to the inquiry in December.

The court heard that she had been tracked down to the reception
area of Lambeth hospital, and when handed the summons had shouted:
“I don’t want anything to do with it. Call my solicitors.”

Baptiste had to be quietened down during the court proceedings,
as a description of events was read out, after shouting “that is
not true”.

She has pleaded not guilty to a charge of refusing or
deliberately failing to attend the Climbie inquiry in December.

The case continues.