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Ayeeshia Jane Smith: Mum Kathryn Smith guilty of murder | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A mother has been found guilty of murdering her 21-month-old daughter, who died with injuries likened to a car crash victim. | |
Kathryn Smith, 23, was also convicted of cruelty to a child following Ayeeshia Jane Smith's death. | |
Her partner Matthew Rigby, 22, was cleared of murder but convicted of causing or allowing the child's death in Burton-on-Trent, Staffs. | |
The pair had repeatedly protested their innocence at Birmingham Crown Court. | |
They will be sentenced at the same court on Monday. | |
Live updates on this story | Live updates on this story |
Ayeeshia collapsed at the couple's home in Britannia Drive in May 2014. | Ayeeshia collapsed at the couple's home in Britannia Drive in May 2014. |
The court heard she had a heart injury usually seen in people who have fallen off buildings or been in a car crash. | The court heard she had a heart injury usually seen in people who have fallen off buildings or been in a car crash. |
Pathologists found 16 separate injuries on her body, including a historical bleed on the brain. | Pathologists found 16 separate injuries on her body, including a historical bleed on the brain. |
They ruled she died from a tear to a heart which was likely to have been caused by a "stamp". | They ruled she died from a tear to a heart which was likely to have been caused by a "stamp". |
'Changed stories' | 'Changed stories' |
The pair, who have since split up but both now live in Nottingham, insisted in court they had nothing to do with the toddler's death. | The pair, who have since split up but both now live in Nottingham, insisted in court they had nothing to do with the toddler's death. |
They changed their stories several times and claimed each other was the last to see the girl. | They changed their stories several times and claimed each other was the last to see the girl. |
Smith claimed Ayeeshia suffered a seizure before her death and suggested her bruised body was caused by falling off her potty. | Smith claimed Ayeeshia suffered a seizure before her death and suggested her bruised body was caused by falling off her potty. |
Rigby told the court it was possible the child's injuries were caused when he gave her CPR while on the phone to 999 operators. | Rigby told the court it was possible the child's injuries were caused when he gave her CPR while on the phone to 999 operators. |
Cannabis users | Cannabis users |
The trial heard social services was aware of Ayeeshia from birth. | The trial heard social services was aware of Ayeeshia from birth. |
They had placed Smith in supported housing in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, after finding out she was living in her father's garage while pregnant. | They had placed Smith in supported housing in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, after finding out she was living in her father's garage while pregnant. |
In June 2013, the child was placed with a foster family but sent back to live with her mother in October, who had by then started a relationship with Rigby and was living in Burton-on-Trent. | In June 2013, the child was placed with a foster family but sent back to live with her mother in October, who had by then started a relationship with Rigby and was living in Burton-on-Trent. |
Smith and Rigby, who was considered the toddler's stepfather, were regular cannabis users and kept the drug in a cup of Ayeeshia's. | Smith and Rigby, who was considered the toddler's stepfather, were regular cannabis users and kept the drug in a cup of Ayeeshia's. |