Woman accused of illegal abortion cleared by jury

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Woman accused of ******** abortion cleared by jury

A woman accused of having an ******** abortion has been cleared by a jury.

Nicola Packer, 45, cried as she was acquitted of “unlawfully administering to herself a poison or other noxious thing” with the “intent to procure a miscarriage”.

Isleworth Crown Court heard she took abortion medicine at home during the coronavirus lockdown, in November 2020, when she was about 26 weeks pregnant. Ms Packer then delivered the foetus and took it to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in a backpack.

The legal limit for taking medication at home to terminate a pregnancy is 10 weeks, while the outer limit for any abortion in England, Scotland and Wales is 24 weeks, apart from in certain circumstances.

Ms Packer, who was 41 at the time, took the medications mifepristone and misoprostol, which were prescribed over the phone due to Covid restrictions.

Prosecutors alleged that Ms Packer knew she had been pregnant for more than 10 weeks, which she denied.

Giving evidence during her trial, Ms Packer spoke of her “shock” and “surprise” at being pregnant.

She told the jury: “If I had known I was that far along I wouldn’t have done it.”

She added: “I wouldn’t have put the baby or myself through it.”

Jurors heard Ms Packer spent the night of 7 November in hospital and was arrested by police the next day.

Ms Packer was supported by friends in the public gallery, who hugged one another as the verdict was delivered.

Jurors deliberated for more than six hours to reach the unanimous verdict.

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