Paramedic accused of killing her baby foster daughter is found not guilty of manslaughter

A paramedic accused of manslaughter over the death of her baby foster daughter has been found not guilty of manslaughter.
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Sarah Higgins was cleared of the charge by jurors who returned a unanimous verdict after hearing evidence for three-and-a-half weeks about the death of ten-month-old Skyla Giller.

Prosecutors claimed Miss Higgins, a Yorkshire Ambulance Service paramedic, caused the fatal injuries to Skyla after losing her temper and subjecting her to a "violent action".Skyla died at Leeds General Infirmary two days after Higgins dialled 999 and told an operator that she had dropped the baby onto the floor while feeding her.

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Higgins and her former partner Martin Dobson are Yorkshire Ambulance Service paramedics and were in the process of adopting Skyla at the time of her death on August 26, 2017.

Sarah Higgins was found not guilty of manslaughter after a trial at Leeds Crown Court.Sarah Higgins was found not guilty of manslaughter after a trial at Leeds Crown Court.
Sarah Higgins was found not guilty of manslaughter after a trial at Leeds Crown Court.

At the start of the trial (on February 25) the jury was played a recording of the emergency call Higgins made from her then home on Oakfield Grove, Skelmanthorpe, Huddersfield.

The defendant told the operator that Skyla was unconscious and unresponsive after she had dropped her.

Higgins, 42, now of Hillcrest Avenue, Townville, Castleford, gave evidence at the trial.She told the jury of seven men and five women how the baby ‘slipped from my grasp’ and fell to the floor as she gave her a bed time cuddle.

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Higgins said she was putting Skyla to bed when she lost grip of her

Skyla suffered a catastrophic brain injury and died after surgery,

After the case, Detective Superintendent Jim Griffiths Senior, of West Yorkshire Police, said:: "We note the not guilty verdict in the trial of Sarah Higgins; this was a tragic case where a ten-month-old baby has lost her life.

"Expert medical advice was sought in the case and a prosecution was believed to be in the public interest for that evidence to be tested by a jury.

"Our thoughts remain with everyone affected by Skylar’s death at this very difficult time.’