The tragic Sally Clark case contains another statistical blunder. Even if the probability of a double cot death was 1 in 73 million this does not mean that the chances of Sally Clark being innocent would be 1 in 73 million. This error is known as the Prosecutor's fallacy.

Roy Meadows said that it would be like backing an 80:1 winner of horse races four times in a row. Well, a few luck people people DO win multiple bets in a row. This does not mean that everyone who wins four bets in a row is a cheat.

Steve Horn, Bo'ness, UK

It is sadness beyond belief that Sally has now died at the age of 42.
Is it normal to die at this age? No!
Do the medical authorities know the cause of her death? No!
On a visit to a family in England - a little village near Sandringham - the family told me that of 37 schoolfriends only 4 were still alive - also of this ame age group.
The question must be asked why are so many dying so young? And why do pathologists say - We dont know why?
When it came to punishing Sally for the death of children there was no doubts or maybes. Sally was found guilty of 2 murders.
Dr Denise Wolstenholme supports this tyranny and advises us that to believe Sally is innocent is wrong.
The tests in the Cleveland scandal showed half the mothers in the area abusing children and the torture stopped only when the deputy police constable was asked to arrest his boss for the same offence.
And what was this test to sho people sticking fingers into bums?
The test was for the doctor was the same! Aaaaargh!

John Fryer, Dinan, France

How tragic. Like so many others, Mrs. Clark was subjected to the worst nightmare of any real parent. "Expert" witnesses, especially in cases such as these, use tactics that border on the silly. Most of them are just narcissistic hate-mongers that spread their propoganda filth with "sensitivity" has their universal shield to block criticism.

May Mrs. Clark rest in peace, and be the mother she wanted to be in the next life. May Mr. Clark's grief not lead to another tragedy.

Matt, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Hope this doesn't mean the Criminal Justice System and thus the government have been absolved of culpability, and relieved of any obligation to make financially recompense. Not that it will help Sally Clark, but a record compensation payment of several million pounds might make them a little more careful in future. Face it, if a solicitor can be railroaded in such a miscarriage of justice, what hope is there for the rest of us? (Make that you; I've vowed never to set foot in the UK again.) Also, heads need to roll, starting with Prof. Sir Roy Meadow. Then those responsible in the police service, CPS, the Criminal Justice System, Social Services, Prison Service must be identified and punished. Time to clean the stables.

Andrew Milner, Yokohama, Japan

I have read with great sorrow, and not a little anger, the sad tale of the tragic parents. The column does contain another powerful message, that of the danger of slavish reverence to 'Experts'. Does this not have some relevance in the current 'Debate' on Climate Change?

John Bailey, maidenhead,

Such miscarriages of justice occur because there are usually little or no consequences for the prosecutors, witnesses, and judges that are responsible for them. This is a fatal flaw in the judicial systems of most countries, including the UK and USA. Unless or until this is corrected, everyone should be aware that they are vulnerable to false accusations. It is sad that normal, sane, innocent people must live an almost paranoid existence, but it is necessary and prudent.

Stefan Stackhouse, Black Mountain, NC, USA

Dr Wolstenholme.
A lot of what you say is true,but it does not alter by one iota the appalling negligence and utter stupidity of the authorities in this dreadful case.
Sally Clark was INNOCENT Doctor,and members of your profession share a huge part of the guilt for the harassment and torture of this poor lady.
Meadow is a disgrace to the medical profession, and the fact that he has been 'cleared' is a stain on the escutcheon of medical ethics in this country.
There are far too many pompous, overwheening, arrogant upstarts like him in the medical establishment.
Cases like this make me ashamed of my Country.

Michael Rigby, Blackburn, England

One cannot say if Mrs Sally Clark died as a consequence of her legal ordeal. It may have been the reason for her death, but one lacks the instruments to measure such effect to the point of inequivocally affirming that one thing took to another. To do so would be equivalent to Sir Roy’s wrong assessment concerning cot-death probability which drove justice in the wrong direction.
Human society proceeds through processes of trial and error, quite often unconcerned of the harm it may cause. By simple common sense and extrapolations accepted by most, the number of Sally Clarks far exceeds any prudent estimative.
I ask forgiveness from Sally, on behalf of those who sent her into prison, kept silence when it was required to question, or looked elsewhere to avoid the sense of guilt by omission. I praise her husband who had both the courage and the sense of loyalty to support Mrs Clark at the worst of times. As usual, tragedy throws light upon the extremes of human behaviour.

R Nunez, Caracas, Venezuela

Might we have some comment from the original Defence barrister/s as to why Meadows' statistics were not picked over with a 'fine-tooth comb'? Maybe the Royal Statistical Society should have been called to refute this error at the time.

Will, Heath,

Error of justice is the worst injustice.

L.B., Orange, France

May God rest her soul in peace.

That's the only thing I can think of.

D M Ajayi, London,

So sorry when I heard the news of Sally Clark.
How are these people be allowed to destroy innocent lives in this way.

Remember Karen and Mark Haynes - Their 1st baby, a boy, died mysteriously aged four months. Their 2nd, a daughter, was taken by the authorities when she was 20 minutes old after Doctor Professor Sir Roy Meadow accused Karen of suffocating her firstborn. Later after FOUR medical experts disagreed with Meadow’s evidence Karen was exonerated by a police inquiry and not charged with murder. But despite this the baby was still put up for adoption. The couple’s 3rd child – known as S – was taken into care soon after her birth last July. Her parents are fighting to have her returned to them but sadly as given up hope of having their other child back.

And Southall who accused a mother of MSBP after taking her sick dogs to the VETS – Social Services took her three children into foster care for months before she was cleared of any wrongdoing.

Its a disgrace.

Layton Bevan, Neath, Wales

Bless her soul,
at least she is with her babies. but her husband poor guy, what can you say.
innocent in my eyes.

Donna Coniglen, bradford, w. yorks

Not only mothers, fathers too are serving or have served time for falseallegations just as horrendous and by the same experts. My husband is one of them serving life for a crime he did not commit and can't come to terms with being accused of killing his baby.

*Megan*, Wales,

Was the statement by Meadows that the probability of two cot deaths in one family was 73 million to one ever challenged? Was he ever asked to explain how these odds could be arrived at? And if not, why not? Is it a case of 'expert witnesses' being taken at face value? And Meadows is still practicing. My God not forgive him.

geoffrey speller, HaleBarns, UK

I was incredibly saddened to hear of the death of Sally Clark and my heart goes out to her poor husband and family who now have yet another tragedy to endure.

Someone said above that it is a fact that some parents hurt their children. Yes I understand this, but does that really mean that every parent of a dead baby or who takes an injured child to A&E has to be treated as if they're the prime suspect in a crime that hasn't even been established to have been committed? When I had a call at work from my 3 year old's private day nursery to tell me he had fallen and broken his arm I collected him and took him to hospital. Despite being accompanied by one of the uniformed nursery nurses, I was still questioned repeatedly by the staff who clearly thought I must have done something to him. One doctor even said into his dictaphone "...the Mother CLAIMS she wasn't there..." right in front of me. Unfortunately, as must often be the case, I was too shaken and upset to defend myself.

Karen Barker, Derbyshire, UK

Yeah, but what about the many thousands of children Professor Meadows saved working as a paediatrician??? I think its a bit drastic to say he should be sent to prison or that his actions were unforgiveable. All he did was give incorrect evidence which unfortunately led to alot of misery and upset for the Clark family. My condolences go out to the family, but I think we should stop using Prof Meadows as some sort of scapegoat.

Anna Lyons, Newcastle, England

This article sums up the situation wonderfully. I was shocked when I read about this. I realize that even if one reads about this kind of thing, one cannot imagine what people like Sally Clark have actually been through.
One can only hope that this tragedy would awaken the powers that be to the need to do something to prevent this kind of thing from happening, rather than passing laws which make miscarriages of justice even more likely to happen.

Alan Sillitoe, Issy les Moulineaux, France

Those women who are driven to harming their young children have been failed by society. Those who do not harm their children face being failed by the criminal justice system. Witch hunts will not end child abuse, effective support and education for parents would go some way to addressing the problem. Post Natal Depression needs to be talked about at the pre natal stage and parenting skills classes should be provided. It is common sense, make parents aware then they can seek help. Isolation and ignorance are the real baby killers.

Liz Weltzien, Lancaster, Lancashire

This is a tragic story. Meadoews should have been sent to prison for the misery he caused so many. His actions are unforgiveable.

asbeal, Auckland, N

What a tragic end to a mother's life. Yes there are lessons to be learnt, but will the powers that be face up to reality. So called expert witnesses are becoming more common and without reproach. The who system needs to be analyzed and faults addressed.

Hamad Lone, Thornton Heath, England

Another terrible loss for this family, my heart goes out to them all. One wonders, however, how many more people are suffering after being convicted on the say-so of so-called experts. Don't these people know what responsibility is?

Wilma Prins, Nieuw-Voseemeer, the Netherlands

Why do you insist on using phrases as "on the expert medical evidence of Sir..." when you know darn well it should read "on the so-called expert medical evidence of Sir..."... ( or so-called medical experts)
I think for the same resons you won't print this

ed bradbury , bournemouth, dorset bh91aj

Perhaps we need a Public Inquiry into the Judicial System with Judges taught to handle trials better and not acquiesce in lawyers cajoling "expert witnesses" into unsupported statements.

The game of "expert witnesses" allows lawyers to escape responsibility for cooking verdicts before trials and hiding evidence. It is the Judge who was clearly asleep at the wheel, if an expert witness had claimed pigs could fly no doubt that would have been accepted by the ever-so astute lawyers too ?

TomTom, Leeds, England

As someone who has worked in the child protection 'industry' for many years I find the essence of this report to be naive, romantic, draconian and essentially dangerous. Unpaletable as it may be, parents/carers of all denominations (birth, adoptive, foster, step) do on a regular basis in the UK seriously abuse their children. Many such incidents resulting in the death of the subject child. Particularly concerning in this article are references to 'common sense' and the inference that intelligent, sensible, normal people are "most unlikely" to harm their children. This suggestion, that parents with such attributions are less likely to harm their children has no basis in fact. Child abusers do not wear funny hats or sprout horns - they are in the main intelligent, sensible, and normal people. The more intelligent among them being often the more dangerous since they manage to avoid detection for longer thus perpetrating more damage against those they are supposed to nurture.

Dr. Denise Wolstenholme, Charente, France

I was truly shocked by the death of Sally Clark. My family suffered false allegations and we were treated as guilty right from the start. The professional witnesses should never be allowed in court. They only have opinions based on theories. I have been inside the fa,ily courts too and opinions are taken as fact and many fathers lose contact with their children because of these expert witnesses. False allegations are a money making business for the UK.
Sally Clark's family should be awarded a medal for being so brave.
I never met Sally Clark but I was so proud of her. The system murdered her and for this they must pay

Mary, Dagenham, UK

As someone who is very familiar with this case, having repeatedly used it as an example of the failings within our Criminal Justice System when lecturing to my Forensic Psychology students, I was deeply saddened to hear about the death of Sally when tuning into the news early yesterday morning.

I shed tears and felt angry not only for her, her husband, her family, but also for the other victims of such dire miscarriages of justice.

The only shred of comfort we might take away from this tragic series of events, is the fact that the pomposity and arrogance of some expert witnesses is now being viewed in the same way that Elizabeth Loftus described eyewitness testimony back in the early 1970s - 100% confidence does not mean 100% accuracy.

Kerry Heathcote, Daventry/Northants, England

I am devastated by the news of Sally's death and remember also Debbie Storey also of Essex who died around 15 months ago of false accusation of MSBP.
And two children of other families who have died of medical negligence because of false accusation against their mothers.
I remember also the countless families (including my own) whose lives have been turned upside down by injustice and misunderstanding based on the flawed theories of Meadow and Southall.
On this Mother's Day let us remember all mothers of sick or dead or disabled children who have been hounded by an inherently corrupt system which prefers not to understand the reasons for childhood illness, disability and death but prefers instead the easy option of "lets blame the mother".

jan loxley-blount, london, uk

We hear so much about human rights - it seems the people who don't deserve it thrive on their ability to use this system. What rights did Sally Clark have, at the end of it all, it boils down to the fact that her life was ruined by so called 'expert' witnesses, hired guns paid to do a job with no thought for the consequences. I hope her death will be on their conscience, somehow, I doubt it will. I feel for her family, for Sally the pain was too great, for her family it will live on.

Ross, Bacup,