Gloucester Care Worker Acquitted of Manslaughter Charge in Death

A care worker in Gloucester has been cleared of manslaughter following the death of a 75-year-old resident at the care home where she was employed. On December 8, 2024, a jury at Gloucester Crown Court found Jane Barnard not guilty of the manslaughter of Derek Davies. However, Barnard, aged 66, had previously pleaded guilty to wilful neglect of Mr. Davies, as defined by the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015. She is set to be sentenced for this charge on January 19, 2026.

During the trial, the court heard that Barnard mistakenly administered 90 grams of slow-release morphine, a medication prescribed for another resident, instead of Mr. Davies’ correct medication. After realizing the error, Barnard disposed of the appropriate medication and failed to report the incident immediately. Later that day, Mr. Davies fell ill, prompting Barnard to call emergency services. Paramedics transported him to the hospital, but he died later that afternoon.

The initial cause of death was listed as a brainstem stroke. However, it was later revised to reflect the effects of morphine toxicity. Following a thorough investigation by the Gloucestershire Police’s Public Protection Unit, the Crown Prosecution Service authorized two charges against Barnard in July 2024. On the first day of her trial, held on November 24, 2024, she admitted to the wilful neglect charge, but the jury ultimately found her not guilty of manslaughter.

The case has had a profound impact on Mr. Davies’ family, who expressed their distress following the trial verdict. They described the past four years as “extremely upsetting,” both due to their loss and the uncertainty surrounding the circumstances of his death. In a statement, they conveyed their ongoing torment about what occurred and the suffering their father may have endured.

Detective Sergeant Bernadette Harding commented on the complexity of the case, acknowledging the family’s long wait for answers. She expressed gratitude for their patience throughout the legal proceedings, noting, “Mr. Davies deserved to be cared for properly, and he should have been safe in the environment in which he was living.”

The family emphasized that the trauma of the situation affected not only their ability to grieve but also how they remember Mr. Davies. They expressed appreciation for the efforts of law enforcement and the prosecution, hoping that the conclusion of the trial will help them in the healing process.

As the legal proceedings come to a close, the focus now shifts to the implications for care standards in facilities like Wheatridge Court, where the incident occurred. The case highlights the importance of accountability and the need for stringent adherence to medication protocols in care homes.