In an already highly tense and extremely emotional hearing on Thursday regarding the life or death of British 11-month-old Charlie Gard, a comment made by the judge sent the baby’s parents over the edge.
Justice Nicholas Francis—who was also the first judge to hear and reject Connie Yates and Chris Gard’s motion to bring their terminally ill son to the United States for treatment—made a statement during Thursday’s hearing that sent Chris and Connie spiraling.
The couple stormed out of the courtroom—leaving their son’s beloved toy monkey behind—after Judge Francis said that the parents had previously said they did not want to prolong Charlie’s life in his present state unless there was hope of improving.
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Connie immediately became enraged and shouted, “I never said that!”
Both she and Chris responded by walking out of the courtroom, and taking some time to cool down outside the building. The judge proceeded to clarify that one of the two parents had in fact made said statement in an earlier trial.
As Faithit previously reported, Chris and Connie have been granted a new hearing for their appeal to bring their son Charlie to the United States for experimental treatment after being rejected by the High Court, Court of Appeals, Supreme Court in London and the European Court of Human Rights.