11 social service personnel alleged of negligence resulting in girl death

Helsinki District Court began on Tuesday a trial against 11 social and health care workers for negligence of duty in a case that an eight-year-old girl was abused and murdered.

The accused persons included five doctors, four social workers and two nurses. The prosecutor considered that all of them were guilty of breach of their duties, either intentionally or negligently, said Finnish national broadcaster Yle.

A girl, who was born in 2004, died of long-term maltreatment by her father and stepmother in Helsinki in May 2012. Helsinki District Court sentenced the father and his partner to life imprisonment in March 2013.

According to the prosecutor, the four social workers reportedly received 11 complaints about the girl's situation but failed to intervene. They were alleged of negligence of their duties in processing the case as part of their responsibilities in child protection and social work.

Meanwhile, the health care professionals were accused of failure to take action.

However, all the suspects denied the accusations against them.

According to Finnish legislation, breach of duty may be lead to a fine or up to one year imprisonment, said Yle.

The main hearing of the trial of the case will begin later this month.

In Finland, child protection is a social responsibility. Social and health care workers, in particularly, are accountable in child abuse cases. Endit