Seven doctors face charges over two-year-old girl's death

Seven doctors were this morning charged with the involuntary homicide of a two- year-old-girl, Aimee Abela, through negligence and misdiagnosis, at Mater Dei Hospital two years ago. All pleaded not guilty to the single charge.  Lawyers Michael Sciriha and Joe Giglio asked the court to ban the publication of their names. Dr Giglio said that the proceedings should be heard behind closed doors. There was a whole ward in the dock he exclaimed.  Lawyer Arthur Azzopardi appearing for the victims' family, objected to the request. Dr Giglio said that once taken to court, people were condemned by public perception. Dr Azzopardi interjected, saying that the fact that there was a ban would make the matter worse because the whole hospital would be blamed. Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona agreed to a ban on the names. VITAL TEST NOT MADE Court-appointed expert Forensic Pathologist Mario Scerri testified that during a magisterial inquiry he examined the dead body and presented a report after also speaking to witnesses. He said that the girl died from meningitis. This was a case of a child who, in February two years ago, had been vomiting and was given voltaren and taken to St James. She was...