A High Court judge has told the parents of Charlie Gard that doctors can remove his life-support despite their strong opposition.

There was a scream of "no" in the court as the decision about eight-month-old Charlie's care was announced by Mr Justice Francis, who had analysed evidence over three days and had visited the child at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Specialists at the hospital in London think it is time to stop providing life support treatment for Charlie.

The judge announced the verdict at London's High Court on Tuesday April 11

Parents Chris Gard and Connie Yates had planned to take eight-month-old Charlie to a hospital in the United States for experimental treatment for mitochondrial disease, but doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital disagreed.

They argued that Charlie has suffered significant, irreversible brain damage as a result of the rare genetic condition and instead should be moved into palliative, or end-of-life care and be withdrawn from life support.

Charlie's parents, who are from Bedfont, managed to raise more than £1.2m to fund Charlie's treatment and specialist care in America, thanks to a public appeal for donations.

The case was taken to the Family Division of the High Court last week, where barristers from both sides made their case, as well as an independent barrister appointed by the judge to represent Charlie interests.

Debra Powell QC, who represented the doctors at Great Ormond Street, argued that due to the significant irreversible brain damage suffered by Charlie and mobility restrictions, life support should be withdrawn.

She went on to say that while Charlie's parents have given their son "complete and unwavering" love and support, a number of "world-renowned" experts were in agreement that his quality of life was too poor to justify further treatment.

Charlie Gard's JustGiving page has hit its £1.2m target

Barrister Sophia Roper, representing Peter and Connie, argued that Charlie should be given the chance to improve and that the treatment would not cause him to suffer significant harm.

Charlie's parents believe there is a chance that his condition may improve, she added, and that his parents wishes should carry "great weight".

Charlie's appointed barrister, however disagreed and said that the experimental treatment in America is neither pioneering, nor life-sustaining, but a purely experimental process, with "no real prospect of improving Charlie's condition or quality of life".

Barrister Victoria Butler-Cole added that continuing life-support treatment isn't benefiting Charlie, but merely "prolonging the process of death".

She concluded by saying that the idea that the treatment may help Charlie is "not so much a chance as a wish".

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