Retrial for nurse accused of poisoning her boss

A dental nurse accused of poisoning her boss using a material used for tooth fillings will face a retrial after a UK jury failed to reach a verdict today.

Ravinder Kaur (aged 34) was alleged to have put mercury amalgam into a cup of coffee she made for practice manager Laura Knowles.

Blackfriars Crown Court in London heard claims that she committed the offence at Shams Moopen Dental Practice in Shefford, Bedfordshire, out of “spite or revenge” after receiving warnings about her poor performance at work in March last year.

Kaur, of Ettrick Drive, Bedford, stood trial on a charge of administering a poison or noxious substance with intent, which she has denied.

Judge Deva Pillay had given the jury of eight men and four women a majority direction but today, after deliberating for a total of seven hours and 27 minutes, they said they were unable to reach a verdict on which at least 10 of them were agreed.

Judge Pillay discharged them and Kaur now faces a retrial, on a date yet to be fixed.