‘What’s happened?’ she asks.
‘It’s Dad,’ the man replies as he runs through the open door of number 25. Sian places her hand against her chest to slow down the rapid pace of her heart. She knows exactly what happened at number 25. Her patient’s body had grown rigid fifteen minutes after he’d ingested the strychnine that had been mixed into the vial of morphine, which she will later replace with the untampered bottle in her pocket. His muscles had spasmed and he’d become hyperaware as the poison invaded his nervous system and his already damaged kidneys began to fail. His eyes had protruded and grown bloodshot as he began to convulse. His pale and fragile skin had turned blue as his blood stopped feeding oxygen to his skin. Death was not quick. Sian checks her watch: 8.23 p.m.. She could have been at his side ten minutes before the poison took hold of his body but that would mean she would have had to perform her duty; to save him. Sian Fox-Carnell was not that sort of angel.
The Chronicle
18 June 2014
Annabeth Lawson
Nurse charged with murder
A district nurse has appeared at Tower Bridge Magistrates’ Court charged with the murder of two patients who were under her care.
Sian Fox-Carnell, thirty-five, from Willesden Green has also been charged with two counts of attempted murder. All offences are said to have taken place over the course of six months.
The Homicide and Murder Enquiry Team South began an investigation into Sian Fox-Carnell after the death of television presenter, Leonard Calgary, who was diagnosed with testicular cancer three years ago, and retired charity worker Adesina Onyeka. Fox-Carnell was charged with the attempted murders of primary school headteacher Tabitha Gladstone and nineteen-year-old psychology student Jorge Menjivar following a report of suspected poisoning.
Fox-Carnell, who was dressed in a grey police-station-issued tracksuit, appeared in the dock before District Judge Kalyani and spoke only to confirm her name, date of birth and address. Fox-Carnell was not asked to enter any pleas to the four charges against her. Several members of the victims’ families were removed from the public gallery in Court One after they ignored the judge’s directions to remain silent and screamed obscenities at Fox-Carnell.
Marcus Valder, prosecuting, told the court that the CPS had authorised a further charge of arson with intent to endanger life.
The judge remanded Ms Fox-Carnell in custody to appear at the Central Criminal Court on 19 June 2014.
Fox-Carnell had been working at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital since graduating in 2003 and became a district nurse in 2010. Jorge Menjivar who attended court with his parents said he was ‘lucky to survive’ and described Fox-Carnell as ‘more evil than the cancer that was once in my body’.
The Chronicle
13 October 2021
Annabeth Lawson
Court of Appeal overturns Sian Fox-Carnell’s murder convictions
A former nurse found guilty of two counts of murder and the attempted murder of two other patients under her care by overdosing them with prescribed medication and the poison strychnine has had her convictions overturned.
Sian Fox-Carnell will now face a retrial after judges ruled new evidence had emerged that was not heard in the first trial and that the original forensic evidence could not be relied upon.
Since the closure of the Forensic Science Services in 2012, forensic work has been contracted to the private sector. LFJ Forensic Services was used by many units within the Metropolitan Police. Toxicology reports in the Fox-Carnell investigation were prepared by Dr Ian Fry who oversaw the criminal division of LFJ Forensic Services from 2007-2019.
Earlier this year Dr Fry, who had previously worked for the FSS, was charged with misconduct in a public office and fraudafter an investigation into the falsification of forensic reports. It’s also alleged Dr Fry falsified records and accepted bribes in a case that led to the wrongful conviction of the late Andrew Streeter, twenty-five years ago. Dr Ian Fry will stand trial at Southwark Crown Court early next year.
Fox-Carnell, now aged forty-two, was found guilty of two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder at the Central Criminal Court in April 2015. She was sentenced to four separate life sentences with a twenty-three-year tariff. She had served six years of her sentence.
Fox-Carnell broke down in tears and collapsed at court when Lady Justice Carr delivered the judgement.
The new Director of Public Prosecutions, Dame Stella Gibbons, issued a statement outside of court that the CPS will be seeking a retrial and that Her Majesty’s Court Service had assured her that the trial date will be expedited.
Ms Martin, Fox-Carnell’s solicitor, said they were delighted that the convictions were quashed and that they were looking forward to the retrial which would successfully absolve Fox-Carnell. ‘Ms Fox-Carnell was and remains a woman of good character and she should be able to prepare for her trial without any restrictions on her liberty. We will be applying for bail in due course,’ her statement added.
1
There was a cheer from most of the Serial Crimes Unit as Anjelica Henley pressed through the crowd and approached the reserved table in the pub garden. A few days ago, she’d been on a beach in Grenada with her family and avoiding text messages from her boss and her ex, Stephen Pellacia. Now she was back in London, exhausted and trying to understand why the serial killer, Sian Fox-Carnell, was a leading news item.
‘You finally decided to grace us with your presence,’ said DS Paul Stanford, standing up and giving mock applause. ‘I thought you’d emigrated.’
‘I’m not here for you,’ Henley said as she handed Joanna, the office manager for the SCU, a blue gift bag and a bouquet of flowers.
‘I told you she would turn up.’ Joanna hugged Henley tightly. ‘Thank you, love.’
