Britain’s Old Baily court found that a senior British doctor had attempted to poison his pregnant lover in an attempt to cause a miscarriage.
The court heard that Dr Edward Erin, a 44-year-old consultant hospital doctor and pharmacologist had twice tried to poison his lover’s drinks after she refused a termination.
Bella Prowse, who was involved in a brief affair with the married father of two, became suspicious when she saw that the lid of a cup of coffee Erin had bought for her had been removed and replaced. The next day, she noticed that the seal on a bottle of orange juice that he had bought for her was broken and went to the police.
Analysis of the contents revealed traces of two drugs which had the potential to cause a miscarriage.
Detective Chief Inspector Mickey Gallagher shared his views on the matter:
Having failed to persuade his girlfriend to have an abortion, he has abused his profession and position of trust, (and) used his medical knowledge to try and bring on a miscarriage.
Prowse has since given birth to a healthy baby.
