'Dr Death' granted leave to appeal his conviction in Australia

Feb 10, 2012 |

Melbourne

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Jailed Indian-origin surgeon Jayant Patel, dubbed as 'Dr Death', was on Friday granted special leave to appeal his manslaughter conviction over the death of three patients in Australia.

Patel is serving a seven-year jail sentence for the manslaughter of three patients and the grievous bodily harm to another at Bundaberg hospital in southern Queensland.

He was convicted in the Supreme Court in Brisbane in 2010, and an appeal against the verdict and sentence was dismissed last year by the Court of Appeal.

Three judges of the High Court sitting in Canberra on Friday heard Patel's lawyer's application via video link from Brisbane, ABC News reported.

Patel's lawyers argued he should get special leave to appeal because the trial judge found the Crown could use a section of the Criminal Code in its prosecution.

They also argued the conduct of Patel's trial was unfair. After a 20 minutes hearing the High Court granted him special leave.

Patel was found guilty of the manslaughter of Gerry Kemps, 77, James Phillips, 46, and Mervyn Morris, 75, as well as guilty of causing grievous bodily harm to Ian Rodney Vowles, 62.

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