Parents fail to get unlawful killing verdict on son

The parents of a spiritual healer who died after a minor foot injury became infected with gangrene failed today in their High Court battle for an inquest verdict that he was "unlawfully killed" by his ex-nurse "soulmate".

A judge said Cherie Cameron and Russell Jenkins believed in regularly checking with their "inner being" on how to live their lives.

Mr Jenkins, a diabetic, ran the Quiet Mind Centre, which offered complementary medicine from his home in Lorne Road, Southsea, Hampshire.

But the "inner guidance" Russell received was against seeking conventional medical help when his foot became infected after he injured it stepping on an electric plug at his home in December 2006.

Mr Justice Pitchford, sitting in London, said Mr Jenkins was "adamant" that he would not receive NHS treatment.

The judge ruled a coroner had been entitled to conclude Mr Jenkins was exercising his own free will not to receive treatment at the time of his death, and he had not been unlawfully killed by Ms Cameron when she failed to summon medical help in his final hours.