Jury retires to consider conclusion in Gaia Pope-Sutherland inquest
The 19-year-old, who suffered from severe epilepsy, was reported missing in Swanage, Dorset, on November 7 2017.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A jury has retired to consider its conclusion in the inquest into the death of Gaia Pope-Sutherland, who was found dead in undergrowth 11 days after running away from home.
The 19-year-old, who suffered from severe epilepsy, was reported missing in Swanage, Dorset, on November 7 2017.
A search operation was launched and included police, the Coastguard, National Police Air Service, Dorset Search and Rescue and members of the public.
On November 18, Miss Pope-Sutherland’s body was found by police between Dancing Ledge and Anvil Point, close to the Swanage coastal path.
A post-mortem examination found she died from hypothermia.
An entomologist said he believed the latest she was alive was November 9.
During the 11-week inquest, jurors at Dorset Coroner’s Court in Bournemouth heard evidence from 78 witnesses, including admitted failings from healthcare professionals and Dorset Police.
Among these accepted failings was a delay in creating a missing person report for the teenager, her initial grading as medium risk instead of high risk, and the delayed response in the first 48 hours after she disappeared.
There is insufficient evidence to say that if these failings had not occurred Gaia would have survived
Rachael Griffin, senior coroner for Dorset, told the jury in her legal directions that even though the force admitted failings in the search for Miss Pope-Sutherland, there was not enough evidence to find they contributed to her death.
“There is insufficient evidence to say that if these failings had not occurred Gaia would have survived,” she said.
“I have concluded that none of these can be safely considered to be either probably or possibly causative of Gaia’s death.”
The coroner also directed the jury to try and reach a unanimous conclusion.
She said: “Your conclusion must not be framed in such a way as to appear to determine the question of criminal or civil liability on the part of a named person.
“You decide this case solely on the evidence you see and hear in this court. Do not do your own research or look anything up on the internet.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.