In June 2010, a triumphant Ben Butler walked out of the Court of Appeal in London. He was a free man.
Butler, then 30, had spent seven months in prison after being convicted of shaking his six week old daughter, Ellie, so violently that it caused a head injury.
He’d appealed the conviction, stating that his daughter had simply turned white and stopped breathing while he was taking care of her.
Butler was released on bail pending his appeal and after a three year legal battle, the conviction had been quashed: the jury were unable to reject the possibility that Ellie’s injuries had another unknown cause.
Upon his release, Butler told the Sutton Guardian: “If it can happen to me, it can happen anyone. It ruined me. I still haven’t got over it.”
The quashing of his conviction, however, did not automatically overturn the ruling – made immediately after his arrest – that he and his partner, Jennie Gray were unfit to care for Ellie.
Top Comments
There needs to be some accountability by the legal system when they make these dreadful decisions. Being beyon reproach and above the law clearly does not serve the best interest of justice.
What about the filth female judge that sent the child back to this dreadful man? What happened to her? She should be struck off - sending Ellie to her death. Neil and Linda the Grandparent fought and fought this dreadful man spending their life savings to save this little girl. I hope Ben Butler is rotting in jail getting everything he diserves and Jennie Gray should be there with him. Disgraceful legal system too.