The jury in the trial of a mother and her new boyfriend, both accused of murdering and sexually assaulting her two-year-old daughter, has started their deliberations.
Little Isabelle Welsh suffered 21 broken bones in the weeks leading up to her death last September, Teesside Crown Court has heard. Her mother Alexandra Walker, 26, and co-accused Harrison Simpson, 22, deny charges of murder, sexual assault, allowing the death of a child and child cruelty.
Head injury and delayed 999 call
The court has been told how Isabelle collapsed at her home in Hartington Close, Thornaby, Teesside, after sustaining a severe head injury. The prosecution claimed that Walker, who had only recently started a relationship with Simpson, delayed calling 999 as an "act of self-preservation".
When paramedics trying to save Isabelle's life examined her, they found her covered in bruises particularly on her head, neck, abdomen, back and private parts; her nappy contained blood and she had vomit on her face, the prosecution said.
Prosecution's account of violence
Richard Wright KC, prosecuting, stated: "For weeks this child had been violently assaulted and her death, by that terrible head injury, was simply the end point in that campaign of violence to which she had been subjected."
Isabelle had been taken to the GP and then hospital 11 days before her death when her leg was discovered to be fractured, and despite the concerns of some medics, the toddler was discharged back into the care of her mother.
The prosecution stated this leg fracture was "no more of an accident than the fatal head injury". A post-mortem examination revealed that Isabelle had suffered fractures to 21 bones and she was "covered in bruising the result of forceful gripping", Mr Wright said.
Defence arguments
Following her death on September 14, the couple were arrested. Simpson chose not to answer police questions and declined to give evidence at the trial.
Nicholas Lumley KC, defending him, claimed Simpson was of good character, had no history of cruelty or violence, and had treated Isabelle with kindness.
Walker took the stand to tell jurors she was sometimes "frustrated" raising a toddler but she had never taken it out on her daughter.
Mark McKone KC, representing Walker, informed jurors that Isabelle's initial broken leg occurred the first time she had been left in the sole care of Simpson, when her mother had a hospital appointment.
Deliberations continue
Trial judge Ms Justice Norton advised jurors there was no expectation that they would reach verdicts on Thursday. Later, she dismissed the jury and asked them to continue deliberations on Monday.
