Sydney, Australia — A Sydney court has released jurors from duty after they failed to reach a verdict in the trial of Cecil Patrick Kennedy, a 52-year-old man accused of manslaughter in the 2005 death of 21-month-old Jordan William Thompson. The case, which captured public attention due to the tragic death of the toddler nearly two decades ago, has ended in a hung jury after a week of deliberations.
Jordan died in a Singleton unit in the NSW Hunter Valley in March 2005, while under the care of Kennedy, who was the boyfriend of Jordan’s mother at the time. Kennedy faced allegations of having administered a fatal dose of an antidepressant to the child within 24 hours of his death.
Prosecutors argued that Jordan’s death was caused by toxicity from the drug amitriptyline, contending that the effects of the drug were a substantial or significant cause of the child’s death, which also involved drowning. However, Kennedy’s defense strongly disputed these claims. Linda McSpedden, Kennedy’s barrister, stated during the trial that her client vehemently denied giving the drug to Jordan, adding that Kennedy had never made such admissions to either the police or the child’s mother.
Throughout the trial, which lasted for more than a month at Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court, the jurors were tasked with determining whether Kennedy was at fault for the young child’s death. Despite extensive deliberations, the jury reported that they were unable to reach either a unanimous or majority verdict.
Judge Craig Smith, presiding over the case, issued several instructions to the jury to continue their efforts to reach a verdict. However, upon further inquiry into the likelihood of reaching a consensus, the jury foreperson responded negatively, prompting Judge Smith to ultimately dismiss the jurors from their duty.
Acknowledging the efforts of the jury, Judge Smith thanked them for their diligent service, emphasizing the complexity and emotional weight of the case. “Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, it is my intention to discharge you from further service,” Smith said. He expressed gratitude for their contributions and noted the difficulty of their task.
As the jurors were discharged, Kennedy, dressed in a grey suit and dark tie, exited the court, his immediate future uncertain. The outcome leaves open questions regarding the events surrounding Jordan Thompson’s tragic death, a case that has lingered in the justice system for nearly two decades.
The case is set to be mentioned again in the District Court on October 4, where next steps, including the potential for a retrial, will be discussed, ensuring that the quest for justice for Jordan William Thompson continues.