Girl, 2, ‘abused and murdered by mum and boyfriend’ in ‘campaign of violence’
A two-year-old girl suffered 21 broken bones in a ‘campaign of violence’ at the hands of her mum and her mother’s new boyfriend that ended with her murder, a court heard.
A two-year-old girl suffered 21 broken bones in a ‘campaign of violence’ at the hands of her mum and her mother’s new boyfriend that ended with her murder, a court heard.
Isabelle Rose Welsh was found lying dead at the foot of the stairs at the home she shared with mum Alexandra Walker, 25, in Thornaby, Teesside, last September.
The toddler’s body was ‘covered in bruises’ – especially her head, neck, abdomen, back, as well as her genitals and bottom, jurors at Teesside Crown Court were told.
Walker and her boyfriend, Harrison Simpson, 21, are on trial charged with Isabelle’s murder, causing or allowing the death of a child, assault by penetration of a child under 13 and child cruelty.
Richard Wright KC, prosecuting, said: ‘Isabelle’s death was not the result of some form of naturally occurring illness.
‘She died because shortly before her terminal collapse somebody had inflicted a massive head injury upon her.
‘Her skull had been fractured, her brain had been injured, and her heart had stopped as a result of that assault upon her.’
The couple had started dating barely three months earlier, and Simpson soon became a regular visitor to Walker’s home, spending ‘a lot of time’ with the little girl, the court heard.
Mr Wright said the couple had an ‘unhealthy’ relationship in which alcohol and drugs were a feature, and this led to the decline of Isabelle’s care before she was ‘subjected to regular violence at home by these defendants’.
Jurors heard Isabelle suffered a broken leg towards the end of August, but it was days before her mum finally sought any medical treatment.
Walker took Isabelle to the family GP who referred them on to the accident and emergency department at North Tees Hospital on September 2 – 11 days before she died, the court heard.
She took Isabelle to the family GP who referred them on to the accident and emergency department at North Tees Hospital on September 2 – 11 days before she died, the court heard.