Romanian Nurse Charged With Manslaughter Stays In Custody

The court meeting prosecutor said Thursday in court that Cirstea leaving the intensive care unit unattended for 12 minutes led to the death of the six newborns. The prosecutor also said Cirstea’s attitude and conduct were vacillating throughout the investigation, therefore, he added, Cirstea poses danger to public order and must be kept in custody.

In retort, Cirstea’s lawyer, Florian Surghie, said the lower court decision was grounded on the basis of article 5, line 3, of the European Convention on Human Rights, and clearly presents the causes and motives for her client’s temporary release. Surghie added the lower court decision obliges her client to be constantly at the disposal of authorities, investigators and court.

On September 15, the same court extended by another month the preventive arrest warrant for Cirstea, on charges of manslaughter and unintentionally causing injuries. Cirstea appealed the decision with the Bucharest Court, which rejected her appeal. Subsequently, Cirstea made a request for parole, which was admitted in court on September 27.

The fire of August 16 in the maternity ward of Bucharest’s Giulesti hospital left three premature babies dead and eight others severely injured. Three more babies died in the following period.

One of the five surviving babies is still in hospital, while the other four have been released.