'FANATICAL AND DELUDED'
Alfie Evans judge attacks law student who wants sick tot’s parents to prosecute Alder Hey hospital doctors for murder
A LAW student advising the parents of stricken Alfie Evans is "fanatical and deluded" and does their case more harm than good, a judge warned last night.
Pro-life activist Pavel Stroilov was blasted by Mr Justice Hayden after joining a fresh appeal to move the gravely ill toddler to a hospital in Italy.
8
The judge criticised Mr Stroilov's "malign hand" in a late-night telephone hearing with representatives for Alfie's family and doctors treating him at Liverpool's Alder Hey hospital.
The activist, who works for the Christian Legal Centre campaign group, advised Alfie's dad Tom Evans to pursue private murder prosecutions against doctors if Alfie dies, the court heard.
The judge said the hospital had in fact provided "world class care" and called the behaviour of some of the Alfie's Army supporters “profoundly depressing to say the least".
Referring to a witness statement taken from Tom by Mr Stroilov, he said: “This does them more harm than it does them good.
8
8
“It’s peppered with unhelpful, inappropriate language and is ultimately injurious to their own objectives.”
The judge did not name Mr Stroilov but called him a “fanatical and deluded young man" and said he risked imprisonment for contempt of court with some of his legal advice.
Alfie's ventilator was turned off late on Monday after a legal bid to prolong his care and have him transferred to Italy was rejected.
Tom, 21, and Alfie's mum Kate James, 20, lodged an urgent appeal last night after their son continued breathing on his own for 24 hours.
He has been in a "semi-vegetative state" for more than a year and is currently only receiving oxygen after life support was withdrawn.
The latest on Alfie Evans' case:
- Alfie Evans has life support removed after Supreme Court ruling is not challenged by European Court of Human Rights
- A judge ruled yesterday that Alfie cannot be flown to Italy for treatment - but asked Alder Hey doctors to consider letting him go home
- Doctors said they have a "genuine fear" of aggressive demonstrators outside the hospital
- Judge said yesterday there is "virtually nothing left" of Alfie's brain
- Alfie's parents say they are giving him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to "keep him alive"
- An appeal against the ruling in the High Court yesterday is due to be heard this afternoon in the Court of Appeal
Family court judge Mr Justice Hayden rejected claims Alfie was "significantly better" and refused to let him go abroad.
But he said it could be possible for the 23-month-old to have palliative care at home. Doctors will assess him over the next two days.
The judge said it was a chance for Alfie's parents to have “some special time to spend with their son.
"That is a shaft of sunshine in a case which has been rather bleak.
“It’s a sensitive situation with a group of professionals who are all doing their best.”
Alfie Evans’ dad, Tom Evans, reveals he’s giving tot mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to ‘keep him alive’ after judge rejected bid to fly him to Italy
8
Today Tom and Kate will challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal today.
The Christian Legal Centre, which has been representing the family for around two weeks, said the case will be heard at 2pm.
Tom said aircraft are on standby to take Alfie to the Vatican's children's hospital if judges give the OK.
Speaking outside hospital today Tom told This Morning: "He's fighting.
"He hasn't had any sign of pain and is sustaining life like any other kid for the past 36 hours. It's totally unexpected.
"I believe I am getting closer to getting him home.
"We would be happy with that but be more blessed to get him to Italy."
8
8
8
8
It comes after the Pope personally intervened in the case and met Tom in Rome, and the Italian ambassador granted Alfie citizenship in a bid to have him transferred from Liverpool.
Mr Stroilov, who is not a qualified lawyer, is the author of a book Behind The Desert Storm which was blasted as "full of nonsense" by the Journal Of Cold War Studies, reports The Times.
A review said it was "devoid of scholarly analysis" and borrowed from wacky conspiracy theories.
The Christian Legal Centre is part of fundamentalist campaign group Christian Concern which has stoked controversy with hardline views on abortion and homosexuality.
Roger Kiska, the group's legal counsel, said of the Alfie case: "We think it sets a very dangerous precedent when the state determines whether the quality of someone's life is good enough for them to live or not. That should be a determination made by the parents."
But the family's previous lawyer accused the CLC of picking on "easy prey".
Mary Holmes of MSB Solicitors in Liverpool told The Times: "These people I don't believe are in it because they love Alfie. When this case is over they'll move on to the next. Or they'll find some other cause they can ride on the back of."
She said Mr Evans was just a "desperate young man, and Kate's this desperate young woman" who would turn to anyone who offered their son hope.
Mr Kiska rejected any suggestion Christian Concern was exploiting the case.
He said: "We believe that Alfie deserves a fighting chance. The parents have every reason to believe he can get treatment abroad".
Andrea Minichiello Williams, chief executive of Christian Concern, said: "Alfie continues to fight for his life in an extraordinary way, as do his parents and our lawyers."
Alfie Evans’ dad reveals son’s life support has been withdrawn – but tot is still breathing on his own an hour later
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.
Topics