A mother accused of murdering her two-year-old son was wrongly advised by NHS 111 to perform two-handed CPR, a forensic pathologist has told the Old Bailey. Phylesia Shirley, 24, called the helpline after Kyrell Matthews became 'floppy' at her flat in Thornton Heath, south London, in October 2019.
Jurors heard that NHS 111 staff should have instructed Ms Shirley to administer one-handed CPR on the toddler, who was later found to have 41 rib fractures. Forensic pathologist Dr Evan Matshes testified via video link from the United States that he could not rule out that the fractures were caused by CPR.
Dr Matshes stated: 'From my experience and from the literature, it is clear that, however infrequent, bruising may happen to the front of the chest, fractures may occur in a variety of different parts of the ribs, the soft tissue around the heart - and the heart itself - may be bruised, the lungs may be bruised and the liver may be bruised and even lacerated in some circumstances.'
Kyrell, who was non-verbal, also had internal bleeding and a 4cm cut to his liver at the time of his death. The prosecution claims he suffered the injuries in at least five separate incidents in the four weeks before his death, allegedly caused by Ms Shirley and her then-partner Kemar Brown, 28, who also denies murder.
Mr Brown's defence argues the injuries resulted from incorrect CPR advice. Ms Shirley has admitted allowing the death and allowing serious physical harm to a child, but denies murder. The trial continues.
