Alfie evans: tom evans ‘accused doctors of conspiracy to murder'
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The toddler’s case is currently being heard by judges. But during today’s proceedings, it emerged Alfie’s father, Tom Evans, had tried to take out a private prosecution to charge three
clinicians with conspiracy to murder. Brave Alfie is fighting for his life after doctors at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital switched off his life support on Monday evening. The 23-month-old is
suffering from a degenerative neurological disorder and both clinicians at the hospital and independent experts say there is no cure and continued treatment is hopeless. A series of legal
challenges by his parents, Tom Evans and Kate James, have been unsuccessful and have resulted in judges consistently siding with doctors. A decision taken in the High Court yesterday denied
Alfie's parents the chance to transfer their child to Italy for treatment. During this afternoon’s hearing, Paul Diamond, from the Christian Legal Centre (CLC) representing the parents,
acknowledged there were “tensions” between Alfie’s family and doctors, but insisted there was no “hostility” against the NHS. In response, Lord Justice McFarlane said: "Your client
purported to take out a private prosecution to have three named doctors charged with the criminal offence of conspiracy to murder. "Those summonses were served on the doctors and I hear
you say that there is no hostility to the NHS." Mr Diamond replied: "There is no hostility but within that process there are tensions." Lord Justice Coulson said: "There
are rather more than tensions." Criminal prosecutions in the UK are usually brought by the Crown Prosecution Service. But the law also allows individuals or companies who have been the
victim of criminal acts by other to launch their own prosecutions. At yesterday’s High Court hearing, Mr Justice Hayden criticised what he called the “malign hand” of one of the
family's advisers, law student Pavel Stroilov. The court heard Mr Stroilov been party to Mr Evans lodging a private prosecution of Alder Hey Hospital doctors, allegedly for murder. Mr
Stroilov works for the CLC, part of a campaign group called Christian Concern, which is known for its opposition to abortion, homosexuality and gender identity issues. Mr Stroilov, who is
not a practicising lawyer but has been advising Mr Evans, was yesterday accused of giving him “false hope”.