The coroner’s inquest into the death of Prescott resident Jamie Hawley broke for deliberations on Wednesday, to consider conflicting advice from experts. According to the Recorder, social services lawyer Sunil Mathai  recommended the jury not go with the Crown’s advice giving service providers more power over care of the disabled.  He said allowing service providers to share information could over-ride the presumption that the disabled are capable of making decisions in their care.  Mathai added changes have recently been made so that it is now mandatory to report suspected cases of abuse to the police public guardian.
The Crown recommended an educational campaign to inform service providers and the general public about the public guardian’s office and the powers it is has to intervene for disabled people.