Doctor cleared of sex assaults on women at Kent and Canterbury Hospital
by Dan Bloom
A hospital anaesthetist has today been cleared of
inappropriately touching three women.
Jurors took just over six hours to clear Senthil Gopalakrishnan,
42, of nine sexual assault allegations at Canterbury Crown
Court.
Gopalakrishnan, who worked at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital
and the William Harvey Hospital, Ashford, wiped his eyes as the
verdicts were delivered.
It followed a week-long trial in which three women claimed Dr
Gopalakrishnan, a respected Fellow of the Royal College of
Anaesthetists, hugged and touched them inappropriately.
One woman, a hospital worker, claimed she called police because
she was afraid her bosses would "brush the matter under the
carpet".
But the Indian-born doctor, of Bingley Court, Canterbury,
maintained his innocence saying he did not understand the British
culture around hugs.
The court heard he told police: "I still don't know if I'm doing
it right" - referring to hugging.
Later, he told them: "In a hospital there are lots of stories
and gossip that can ruin and damage people's
reputation."
Senthil Gopalakrishnan
was on trial at Canterbury Crown Court
His wife of 14 years, a consultant paediatrician, said after the
verdict: "We knew he was not guilty right from the beginning.
"If the hospital had investigated in the beginning it wouldn't
have been extended to this point, we wouldn't have needed to be
here."
Dr Gopalakrishnan said after the verdict: "I'm very
relieved."
18/12/12
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