A mother and her boyfriend have been found guilty of murdering her two-year-old daughter, Isabelle Welsh, who was sexually abused before sustaining a catastrophic head injury.
The toddler suffered 21 broken bones in the weeks leading up to her collapse at the family home in Thornaby, Teesside, in September last year.
Verdicts at Teesside Crown Court
Alexandra Walker, 26, and Harrison Simpson, 22, had pleaded not guilty to charges including murder, allowing the death of a child, sexual assault and child cruelty.
After almost seven hours of deliberation, the jury at Teesside Crown Court convicted Simpson unanimously of murder. Walker was found guilty by a majority of 11 to one.
Both were also convicted of child cruelty. Simpson was found guilty of sexually assaulting the toddler; Walker was acquitted on that charge.
Sentencing and case details
Ms Justice Norton thanked the jury for their work on what she called a “difficult” case.
She is due to pass sentence on Thursday morning.
