A 25-year-old mother who allowed her partner to beat her 16-month-old daughter to death has been released from prison after serving less than half of her sentence. Frankie Smith was freed at the end of last month after serving less than five years and is now living under a new name.
Background and Sentencing
Smith was jailed after her daughter, Star Hobson, died in 2020 following months of physical abuse, which culminated in her being battered to death by Smith's lover, Savannah Brockhill, in September 2020. Smith was originally jailed for eight years, with the sentence later increased to 12 years.
At the time, Brockhill, then 28, was found guilty of murder and jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years. The Ministry of Justice confirmed Smith's release from prison but stated that it was not part of the recent early-release scheme.
Trial Details
During the 2021 trial, the jury at Bradford Crown Court heard that Star had gone through months of physical and psychological abuse, and that her injuries sustained in her home in Keighley, West Yorkshire, were "utterly catastrophic". The jury also heard that the injuries that caused Star's death involved extensive damage to her abdominal cavity, "caused by a severe and forceful blow or blows, either in the form of punching, stamping or kicking to the abdomen".
Star had also endured fractures to her leg and skull, two brain injuries, and numerous rib fractures. The judge said that Smith and Brockhill filmed the abuse and "enjoyed" it, and that Star was "caught up in the crossfire" of the relationship where Smith became "obsessed" with Brockhill at the expense of her daughter.
Previous Reports and Family Response
Following the trial, it emerged that West Yorkshire Police had two reports about the abuse Star suffered in the months before her death. The first was made by Star’s father in June 2020 after he saw bruising to his daughter’s face. However, a doctor concluded the injuries were sustained accidentally. He made a second report in August of that year after he received a video showing bruises to his daughter’s face. The injuries were once again believed to be accidental.
Star's grandfather, Frank Smith, 73, told The Sun that justice has not been served, and that Star has been "robbed". He told the publication: "I just don’t understand our justice system. She was Star’s mother. She knew what was happening, but now she gets to live her life, whilst Star has been robbed of justice."
It is understood that social services were also contacted by friends and family after they had seen pictures and videos of Star's injuries. However, social services were led to believe that the family were making such reports because they disapproved of the couple's same-sex relationship. During the trial, it was revealed that the couple called Star "it", and they argued over text about who got to hold her under the water the longest. It was also revealed that Brockhill grabbed her by the throat, lifted her into the air and slammed her onto a bed to "toughen her up".
