Dr. Pou Grand Jury Update
(6/19/2007)
As of this date, a special Orleans Parish grand jury continues to deliberate charges against Dr. Pou and her nurse colleagues. While supposedly conducting business in secret, media leaks allege that the District Attorney has offered immunity grants to the nurses and several others.
What is clear from these leaks is that for whatever reason, the private proceedings of the grand jury are not so private after all. Despite these leaks, surveys indicate that the public is strongly opposed to the investigation and to pursuit of any charges against Dr. Pou or her colleagues.
“The fact that ‘secret’ proceedings are making their way into the media is very disturbing and must be watched very closely,” said Rick Simmons, lead counsel for Dr. Pou’s defense. “Dr. Pou, Cheri Landry and Lori Budo deserve due process,” Simmons said.
According to Loyola University law and ethics professor Dane Ciolino who is unaffiliated with the defense teams representing Dr. Pou or the nurses, the offer of immunity after 22 months of innuendo, interviews and investigations could signal difficulties for proponents of prosecution.
While the DA is not commenting publicly, those seeking to leak grand jury proceedings claim that a decision on whether or not to proceed with formal charges could come as early as the end of June. And so we wait.
