Doctor acquitted of care home manslaughter

Ivan Pepelyashkov appeared before Belfast Crown Court on Wednesday

A doctor has been acquitted of the manslaughter of a female patient who died in a care home.

Ivan Pepelyashkov was due to stand trial on a charge of unlawfully killing Michele McGuigan in Londonderry in May 2018.

The 48-year old, from Riverside in Antrim, had denied the charge and appeared at Belfast Crown Court on Wednesday.

After the jury was sworn in, Madam Justice McBride was addressed by a prosecution barrister who said, after taking instruction from the director of public prosecutions, the Crown would not be offered any evidence against Dr Pepelyashkov.

Madam Justice McBride then addressed the 12 jurors and instructed the foreman to enter a plea of "not guilty by direction".

Following this the prosecution told the court there was "nothing further" against Dr Pepelyashkov.

The judge then told the Bulgarian-born doctor: "You have been found not guilty on the direction of the jury and you are therefore free to go."

Despite no details being given in court on Wednesday, it is understood the charge related to an incident in the Owen Mor Care Centre in Culmore Road in Derry.

A second defendant, Easteden Limited which is based on the Erganagh Road in Omagh, has also been charged with an offence arising from the incident.

The company, which owns the care home, has been charged with a health and safety breach - namely that it failed to ensure the safety of a non-employee on a date between 10-14 May 2018.

Easteden Limited has denied the charge and a trial is due to be held at a later date.