Published: Friday, 14th March, 2008 16:28
New evidence used in bid to free Keran
By Ruth Moulden
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Campaign: Ribbons have been on display in Iver since Keran Henderson was jailed
NEW evidence regarding shaken baby syndrome is being put forward in a campaign to clear a convicted childminder.
Baby Maeve Sheppard, from Slough, died aged 11-months in the care of Iver Heath childminder Keran Henderson. In a case at Reading Crown Court, jurors found Mrs Henderson guilty, jailing her for three years in November.
New medical evidence was featured on BBC Panorama on Monday, which comes just a week after an appeal against Mrs Henderson’s conviction was submitted. During the television investigation an American professor of biomechanics, Dr Chris Van Ee claimed tests show that falling off a sofa does far more damage than shaking.
Also, a forensic pathologist, Dr Patrick Lantz, who is carrying out new research into one of the injuries associated with the syndrome, bleeding behind the eyes, believes there could be other innocent explanations for the bleeding.
Keran’s husband Iain, of Iver Heath, told the Observer: “Maybe this is the good that can come out of this nightmare so that other parents don’t have the finger too easily pointed at them.
“If it generates healthy debate where we look at all the aspects of this case.”
Mrs Henderson was found guilty by a majority verdict after expert witnesses told of how baby Maeve suffered injuries to her brain and bleeding in her eyes that indicated shaken baby syndrome.
Her family and friends have always been convinced of her innocence, and the scientific doubts have been the basis of an appeal to free her.
Maeve’s family have so far shunned publicity, but her father Mark spoke out on Panorama, revealing that the family are emigrating to Ireland.
He said: “We obviously knew there was going to be some kind of campaign [for Keran] but we didn’t believe the scope of the campaign that has been waged and we found it very, very hard.
“At the end of the day, we believe in the judicial system. We got what we thought was a fair verdict. In 18 months she goes homes to a loving husband and two loving children. I will never have Maeve back.”
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