A woman accused of having an illegal abortion during Covid lockdown has been found not guilty.
Nicola Packer, 45, took abortion medicine at home in November 2020 and later brought the foetus to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, her trial at Isleworth Crown Court heard.
The 45-year-old was charged with “unlawfully administering to herself a poison or other noxious thing” with the “intent to procure a miscarriage”.
Ms Packer cried and wiped her eyes with a tissue after she was acquitted by a jury at Isleworth Crown Court in south-west London on Thursday.
Ms Packer, then 41 years old, took prescribed medications mifepristone and misoprostol, when she was around 26 weeks pregnant during the second coronavirus lockdown, jurors previously heard.
The legal limit for taking medication at home for an abortion is 10 weeks. The typical full gestation term is 40 weeks and the outer limit for abortions in the UK is normally 24 weeks, though there are grounds where there are no limits.
Prosecutors had alleged Ms Packer knew she was pregnant for more than 10 weeks, which she had denied, tearfully telling the jury during her evidence that she would not have taken the medication if she had known how far along she was. She told the court: “I wouldn’t have put the baby or myself through it.”
Jurors rejected the prosecution’s case to find Ms Packer not guilty of having an illegal abortion.
Ms Packer was supported by five people in the public gallery, with some hugging each other after the verdict was read to the court.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (Rcog) said the trial of Ms Packer had shown “just how outdated and harmful” current abortion law is and called for reform.
The college’s president, Dr Ranee Thakar, said: “As a doctor, I am acutely aware of how vital it is that women can access essential healthcare in a safe and supportive environment.
“Restrictive abortion laws in England and Wales nurture an environment of fear, stigmatisation and criminalisation. They needlessly subject women to prolonged investigation, criminal charges, and custodial sentences for ending their own pregnancy.
“The Rex v Nicola Packer case at Isleworth Crown Court that concluded today shows just how outdated and harmful these laws have become. Abortion reform is urgently needed and now is the time for change.”
The college said it had joined with healthcare professionals and experts “from over 30 other medical, legal and public health bodies” to call on parliament to “take urgent action to protect women’s essential reproductive rights and stop these criminal proceedings”.
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