Dr Martina van der Leij appeared as junior counsel for the paternal grandfather included among 8 possible perpetrators of poisoning a baby with salt.
The 3-week fact finding before a s.9 judge (authorised to act as a High Court judge) was complicated because:
- the child lived in a multi-generational household
- Martina’s client was related to all but 2 of the other possible perpetrators which meant DNA evidence and conclusions drawn from it was open to challenge.
- the expert evidence was complex – the leading expert nephrologist provided an opinion on the likely timing of salt administration but said it was one of the most complex cases he had ever seen.
Read the judgment in A Local Authority v MA & Ors [2026] EWFC 130.