Medic who drank acid went alone to casualty

The former partner of a hospital doctor who died after swallowing sulphuric acid went to the pub to drink lager and talk about football as his ex-partner was being taken to casualty in agonising pain, a court heard today.

The former partner of a hospital doctor who died after swallowing sulphuric acid went to the pub to drink lager and talk about football as his ex-partner was being taken to casualty in agonising pain, a court heard today.

Birmingham Crown Court heard that Andrew Gardner, 41, declined to accompany Dr Karenina Longe in the ambulance to the city's Heartlands Hospital, where she worked, and decided instead to take a taxi to a nearby pub.

Mr Gardner, who it is alleged waited 23 minutes before calling an ambulance, denies murdering Dr Longe by giving her sulphuric acid.

Tracey Walker, an ambulance technician who responded to the emergency call, said she was "surprised" when told by a man said to be Mr Gardner that the doctor had taken sulphuric acid and that the accused said it was an accident.

The case continues.