Nanny accused of shaking baby boy to death walks free after judge orders not guilty verdict

13 April 2012

Not guilty: Linda Wise walked free from court today after a judge ruled there was not enough evidence to show she had killed a three-month-old baby boy

A nanny accused of shaking a baby boy to death walked free from court today after a judge ruled there was not enough evidence to prove she killed him.

Mr Justice David Clarke said he was 'greatly troubled' by the prosecution case against Linda Wise, 47, and ordered a jury to find her not guilty.

The nanny, who has more than 25 years' experience in childcare, had always denied doing anything to harm three-month-old Isaac Rowlinson.

She and Isaac's mother burst into tears at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday when the judge said - in the absence of a jury - that there was not enough evidence. 

Mr Clarke then brought the jury into court today to say the trial could not proceed, before declaring there were 'no winners in this case'.

'The loss to the parents of Isaac is incalculable and the defendant herself has been under a cloud of suspicion for a long time,' he told the court. 'And that cloud may not lift at once now the case has come to an end.'

Miss Wise, from Gaerwen, Anglesey, north Wales, closed her eyes as the not guilty verdict was handed down.

In a statement, she said: 'The last two years of my life have been put on hold because of the dreadful allegations made against me.

'I have dedicated the last 25 years to caring for babies and young children. I have never harmed a child in my care and would never do so. And I certainly did not harm baby Isaac.

'Despite the allegations made against me, I have nothing but sympathy for Paul and Lisa Rowlinson. They have lost their beloved child and nothing will bring him back.

'I have been totally vindicated by the outcome of today but the prosecution has effectively put an end to my career in healthcare.'

Isaac's parents, Lisa and Paul, both Lancashire Police detectives, were not at the hearing. They had only missed one day of the trial until today.

Their son suffered brain damage while in Miss Wise's sole care in 2006. His condition led to epilepsy and he died 10 months later after a fit.

The couple had cashed in their savings to hire the nanny at £350-a-day to help them look after Isaac, who had a complicated medical history including choking and feeding problems.

A sufferer of reflux, he could not take a bottle into his mouth properly and would often be sick after feeding, prompting fears he could choke in the night.

Tragic: Isaac Rowlinson died last year in a fatal epileptic fit 10 months after doctors found he had brain damage

Tragic: Isaac Rowlinson died last year in a fatal epileptic fit 10 months after doctors found he had brain damage


The couple were staying in the Lake District in September 2006 when Miss Wise called an ambulance and had Isaac rushed to hospital because he was clearly unwell.

In her evidence, she had described how the baby had clasped his mouth shut and gone rigid.

A CT scan in hospital picked up the signs of two brain haemorrhages, at which point doctors raised concerns his injuries might not have been accidental and reported the matter to the authorities.

Prosecutors had claimed in court that they could prove the brain damage happened when Isaac was in Miss Wise's sole care.

But the judge disagreed and said he could not see how the jury could agree the injuries were caused in the timeframes provided.

Detective Superintendent Mick Gradwell, of Lancashire Constabulary's Major Investigation Team, who led the inquiry, said today: 'While we are naturally disappointed with this outcome, from the outset this has been an incredibly complex investigation.

'We respect the judge's ruling and accept his comments. Our thoughts remain with Paul and Lisa who, regardless of the outcome of this case, have lost their son.'

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