…By Judah Olanisebee for TDPel Media.
A woman jailed for illegally obtaining abortion tablets to end her pregnancy during lockdown will challenge her sentence at the Court of Appeal.
Carla Foster, who procured her own abortion when she was between 32 and 34 weeks pregnant, was given a 28-month extended sentence.
She is now appealing this sentence, which had garnered backlash from women’s groups, at the Court of Appeal in London.
Controversial Case and Sentencing
The Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard that Foster had contacted the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 and received the abortion drugs after providing misleading information about the stage of her pregnancy.
Initially charged with child destruction, Foster pleaded guilty to administering drugs or using instruments to procure abortion.
Backlash and Calls for Reform
Following the sentencing, women’s rights groups expressed their outrage and called for reform.
Amnesty International UK’s women’s human rights program director, Chiara Capraro, described the decision to prosecute Foster under a law from 1861 as “shocking and quite frankly terrifying.”
BPAS chief executive Clare Murphy emphasized the need to protect women in desperate circumstances, urging MPs to ensure that no woman would be threatened with prison in such situations.
Appeal Hearing
Foster is scheduled to appear before the Court of Appeal, presided over by Dame Victoria Sharp, Lord Justice Holroyde, and Mrs. Justice Lambert.
The hearing will commence at 10:30 am.
Conclusion: The case of Carla Foster has sparked significant controversy and debate regarding the prosecution and sentencing of women who obtain abortion pills.
The outcome of the appeal will have implications for women’s reproductive rights and the legal framework surrounding abortion in the UK.
The case has highlighted the need for a nuanced approach that takes into account the unique circumstances and challenges faced by women seeking abortions.
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