What is believed to be the UK's first 'gender-abortion' prosecution is to proceed to the Crown Court, following a hearing at Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court. Friday 16 January 2015 has been set as the date for a pre-trial review. Dr Prabha Silvaraman is accused of conspiracy to procure an illegal abortion. However, in a concerning development, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has been asked to take over the case and drop it. Last year the CPS concluded that there was sufficient evidence in the case to provide a realistic prospect of conviction - but decided not to prosecute Dr Prabha Sivaraman and a second doctor, claiming that it was 'not in the public interest' to do so! It was because of the CPS's failure to prosecute, that Aisling Hubert launched her private prosecution, supported by the Christian Legal Centre.