A mother and her former boyfriend have been found guilty of manslaughter following the death of her three-year-old daughter in Solihull. Kaylee-Jayde Priest was discovered dead at the flat she shared with her mother, Nicola Priest, on 9 August 2020. The child died from severe chest and abdominal injuries, and the court heard she had suffered a history of physical abuse, including broken ribs, leg fractures, and a broken sternum.
Nicola Priest, 23, and Callum Redfern, 22, were both cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter after a trial at Birmingham Crown Court. The jury heard that the pair, who were in a close relationship at the time, blamed each other for the killing. Priest had called 999, but a judge stated that Kaylee-Jayde was already dead before the call was made.
The court was presented with evidence of the abuse, including text messages in which Priest said she was 'gonna kill her' because the child kept leaving the living room. Neighbours reported hearing bangs, shouts, and crying, and said that Priest would often play loud music to drown out the child's cries. CCTV footage from the hours before Kaylee-Jayde's death showed her looking up at her mother, who appeared disinterested and checked her reflection in the mirror.
Priest was also found guilty of child cruelty relating to historical injuries, while Redfern was acquitted of that charge. In a statement, Kaylee-Jayde's grandmother, Debbie Windmill, expressed her grief, saying: 'Everybody deserves the gift of life. Kaylee-Jayde deserved to show the world who she could have been.'
Detective Inspector Adam Jobson described the case as a 'grim picture' and said the full truth may never be known. Both Priest and Redfern are due to be sentenced on Friday.
