WILLIAM Kerr's solicitor has revealed that his legal battle to clear his name is still not over.

The Court of Appeal decided last year that a crown court hearing in 2000 - at which the retired York psychiatrist was found by a jury to have indecently assaulted a former patient - went ahead correctly.

It disagreed with lawyers for Dr Kerr that his right to a fair hearing under the European Convention on Human Rights had been breached because he had been subjected to a criminal procedure, despite being unfit to stand trial.

But now his solicitor, Richard Manning, has revealed that a test case involving another person in a similar legal situation is due to go to the House of Lords later this year.

He said that if that appeal is upheld, Dr Kerr's case would be taken back to court with an application for the jury's findings to be quashed.

If the Lords appeal fails, that will still not be the end of the matter, with the case being taken to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. An application was made to the European Court last year, but has been put on hold until the result of the Lords appeal is known.

Mr Manning's comments came after the General Medical Council revealed yesterday that it is to investigate complaints by former patients against Dr Kerr, from near Easingwold.

Updated: 11:36 Wednesday, September 04, 2002