Bradford man in court after Dutch teenager takes own life

A Bradford man has been found not guilty of encouraging or assisting a Dutch teenager to take her own life.

Christopher Ballard, 43, sent emails and WhatsApp messages to 14-year-old Gina Van Houten before her death in March 2018, but he told investigating officers that he thought they were engaged in “role play or fantasy” and he didn’t intend to encourage her to kill herself.

During his trial at Bradford Crown Court, barrister Nicholas Johnson KC, for Ballard, told the jury that his client’s autistic spectrum disorder may explain why he did not suspect that Gina was serious about taking her own life. The jury heard that Ballard, of Clayton Road, Bradford, did not have any close friends and stayed on his computer for hours.

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The prosecution had alleged that Ballard sent messages to the teenager outlining a “suicide pact” between them, but Ballard went on trial after pleading not guilty to the charge of encouraging or assisting a suicide.

The jury began its deliberations on Monday morning and after more than six hours of discussion they returned a unanimous not guilty verdict shortly after midday on Tuesday, November 19.

The Honourable Mrs Justice Lambert DBE, who presided over the trial, said after the jury had returned their not guilty verdict: ”Mr Ballard can step out of the dock. He’s discharged.” The court heard that following a joint investigation by Dutch authorities and West Yorkshire Police Ballard was arrested in September 2020.

He was said to have only learned of the teenager’s death when he was arrested. In his police interview he said he never had any intention of encouraging her to do anything to herself and from his perspective it was all role play.