Jury discharged in illegal abortion case
The jury in the trial of a Cirencester woman accused of arranging an illegal abortion has been discharged for legal reasons.
Sophie Harvey, 25, of St Mary's Road, Cirencester, was on trial at Gloucester Crown Court accused of procuring a poison, procuring her own miscarriage by poison and attempting to pervert the course of public justice.
Her boyfriend, Elliot Benham, 25, of Wingfield, Swindon, was also on trial, accused of trying to pervert the course of public justice.
During the trial, the jury was told the charges relate to events in the summer of 2018, when both defendants were 19 years old.
Prosecutors alleged that Miss Harvey took a drug that was purchased to end the pregnancy, after she was over the 24-week gestation period for a legal abortion in England.
Elliot Benham admitted to helping Sophie Harvey purchase the tablets, which she insists she never took and had a miscarriage.
Both defendants have pleaded guilty to concealing the birth of a child.
Judge Ian Lawrie KC, the Recorder of Gloucester, told the jury that they were being released from any further deliberation on the case. It has not been reported why the judge took this decision.
The judge said the decision to discharge the jury was done with a heavy heart but described it as an unavoidable position.