Son accused over mum's death to give no evidence
SuppliedA man accused of leaving his elderly mother to die on a bathroom floor will not be giving evidence at his trial or calling any witnesses, jurors have heard.
Stewart Irwin, from Carlisle, denies a charge of manslaughter by gross negligence and allegations he failed to help 74-year-old Veronica Irwin after she suffered a fall in their Rydal Street flat.
Paramedics, who found her semi-naked, malnourished and covered in bin liners and a clean-looking duvet, initially believed she was dead before realising she was "in the most perilous state of health".
Trial proceedings were adjourned for the day at Carlisle Crown Court where the jury is due to return on Tuesday.
Veronica Irwin died several hours after she was taken to hospital on 28 July 2023.
Jurors have heard Irwin told a 999 call handler his mother had been lying on the bathroom floor for "two weeks" and had refused help.
A Home Office pathologist previously told the jury the immediate cause of death was a combination of hypothermia and neglected pressure ulcers which covered more than a third of her body and had caused sepsis.
Irwin's barrister, Andrew Ford KC, said in a short address to trial judge Justice Bright that his client "will not be giving or calling evidence."
Ford confirmed he had advised Irwin the stage had been reached at which he could give evidence and that, in the judge's words, "the jury may draw such inferences as may appear proper from his failure to do so".
Justice Bright confirmed to jurors that Irwin would have been the only defence witness in the trial and, as a result, his legal team would not be calling any other evidence.
Prosecution and defence barristers are set to make closing speeches to jurors, who will also hear Justice Bright give legal directions and sum up evidence in the case before they retire to start their deliberations.
