Father charged with killing terminally ill son granted bail

A FATHER charged with murdering his terminally ill son walked free from a British court yesterday after being granted bail.

Andrew Wragg, aged 36, facing trial for murdering his 10-year-old son, Jacob, who suffered with Hunters syndrome, was released at Lewes Crown Court. He hugged and kissed his mother, Anne, and other family members, who spoke of their joy at his release.

Earlier he had been led into the East Sussex court in handcuffs.

His brother Chris said: “I speak for the whole family when I say it is with pure relief that Andy has been released on bail. That’s all I can say.” Mr Wragg’s solicitor, Oscar Vincent, also gave a statement, saying: “Mr Wragg is immensely relieved to be granted bail this morning.

“Over the past week he has had somehow to put up with the death of his son, several days of police questioning and a remand into a prison environment.

“Granting bail now allows him time to spend with his family, to grieve properly for the death of his son, to deal with funeral arrangements and to prepare properly for the trial.”

Mr Vincent refused to discuss Mr Wragg’s bail conditions. Yesterday, Judge Richard Brown heard from prosecutor Ann Toynbee that the defendant, of Henty Close, Worthing, West Sussex, who appeared in court wearing a tie and grey suit, was facing one count of murder, allegedly committed on July 24.

Judge Brown adjourned the case until October 22, when a plea will be entered, before granting bail in private.

In court were Mr Wragg’s brothers Chris and Steve, his parents Anne and Robert, and his sister Tina, together with other family and friends. There was no sign of his wife Mary, aged 40, who was arrested with him on July 24 at the family home following a 999 call reporting Jacob’s condition.

The pair were both detained over the death of Jacob, who suffered with Hunters, which causes progressive mental and physical deterioration. Mr Wragg was charged on July 26 while Mrs Wragg, who has raised money for Hunters sufferers, was released without charge.

At Mr Wragg’s first court appearance before Chichester magistrates 11 days ago, the court heard how he had returned from Iraq where he was working as a private security guard in the weeks before Jacob’s death.