Mary Prior KC and Claire Fraser represented Dr. Lisa Davenport who suffocated her terminally ill father with a pillow as an act of mercy to end his suffering. Dr. Davenport was charged with murder in 2023 but following the receipt of psychiatric reports which demonstrated that Dr. Davenport caused her father’s death whilst suffering from a mental disorder which substantially impaired her ability to form a rational judgment and exercise self-control, the Crown accepted a plea to manslaughter.
The starting point for sentence in this case was one of seven years imprisonment but following mitigation provided to the sentencing Judge, Mr. Justice Lynden, the sentence was reduced to two years imprisonment which was suspended for a period of two years.
The case required significant consideration of expert evidence of the post mortem and palliative care experts together with the time and effort necessary to gain the trust of a very fragile client.
Further information
For more information from the crime team, contact clerks@36crime.co.uk
