Re: Couple not guilty in abortion trial.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/10/14/3038330.htm



Couple not guilty in abortion trial

By Kirsty Nancarrow and Melinda Howells

Updated Thu Oct 14, 2010 5:55pm AEDT
Not guilty: Sergie Brennan and Tegan Leach


A District Court jury in far north Queensland has found a Cairns couple accused of procuring an illegal abortion not guilty.

The jury of eight women and four men took less than an hour to reach the unanimous verdict.

They found Tegan Leach, 21, not guilty of procuring her own miscarriage and Sergie Brennan, 22, not guilty of unlawfully supplying drugs to procure an abortion.

There was loud applause and cheering from the public gallery as the verdicts were read out and Judge William Everson told the couple they were free to go.

Ms Leach broke down after hearing the verdict and family members hugged the couple.

It is almost two years since Ms Leach took two drugs, including RU486, to have a home abortion.

Mr Brennan had his sister send the drugs from the Ukraine.

Neither Ms Leach or Mr Brennan gave evidence during their trial.

Verdicts welcomed

Cairns doctor Caroline DeCosta says she will continue prescribing the abortion drug RU486.

"I believe its legal for my patients and I'm heartened by the decision in the court today," she said.

Kate Marsh from the group Children by Choice has also welcomed the not guilty verdicts.

"They've been through a whole lot over the last 18 months and it's not something they ever should have had to go through in the first place," she said.

"Obviously the outcome shows the law for what it is which is something that the community just isn't comfortable with.

"Hopefully that gives the Government a bit of impetus for reform."

No change to laws

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh says the State's abortion laws will not be amended.

She says she supports decriminalisation, but the majority of MPs do not so changes would not pass in a conscience vote.

Opposition leader John-Paul Langbroek said this week his side of politics has no intention of amending the laws either.