A SENIOR prosecutor has described the Dorothy Morgan manslaughter case as “one of the worst” of its kind she has ever dealt with.

Gail O’Brien, senior crown prosecutor for CPS Northwest complex casework unit, said: "This is one of the worst cases of manslaughter by gross negligence I have seen.

“It would have been clear to both men that Mrs Morgan was suffering from a lack of basic care and medical attention, still they failed to call for assistance until it was too late.

“The CPS worked hard with Cumbria Constabulary to build a strong case ensuring that all the medical and pathology evidence was before the court. The jury agreed with the CPS that both men were guilty of manslaughter.

“My thoughts are very much with the family of Dorothy Morgan.”

The lengthy Cumbria Police investigation involved the gathering of huge amounts of evidence and the preparation of complex medical reports for the trial.

A pathologist confirmed that Mrs Morgan lung cancer but this played no part in her death. The severe emaciated state of Mrs Morgan and the neglected - and infected - pressure sores she developed were the main cause of her death.

Further investigation by a geriatrician revealed that the pressure ulceration would have been increasing in severity for at least three weeks and possibly six weeks, before she developed sepsis.

The level of dehydration was such that Mrs Morgan had not had adequate fluids for around seven to ten days.

The doctor confirmed that the presence of gangrenous toes suggested that the dehydration levels were at the upper end of the range and Mrs Morgan would have been drowsy for two-three days before any medical attention was sought.

Despite the postmortem and other medical evidence, both Robert Morgan and David Holyoak denied manslaughter, claiming they were simply carrying out her wishes to have no medical attention.