We represented a parent in care proceedings involving serious allegations of Non-Accidental Injury. It was alleged that one of the children had been harmed, with multiple fractures identified in different areas of the body.
This case involved a "split hearing", meaning there was a separate Fact-Finding Hearing for the court to consider the allegations of harm. There was later a Final Hearing where the welfare of the children was considered, and their final placements arranged.
The Court made a "pool finding" for our client; the Court was unable to identify who caused the harm but was able to identify the possibility of it being more than one person (a ‘pool’ of perpetrators).
Following the Fact-Finding Hearing, we successfully argued for further assessments of our client, with Max Konarek playing a key role in identifying the appropriate experts to be instructed. There was then a period of further assessments which ultimately led to positive recommendations, resulting in the children being returned to our client’s care at the end of the proceedings.
Our client was represented by Max Konarek, Partner and Joint Head of the Family & Childcare Department at GT Stewart, assisted by Alison Barar, Caseworker from our Kent team.
