This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-35998417
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Ayeeshia Jane Smith: Mum Kathryn Smith guilty of murder | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | The pair had repeatedly protested their innocence at Birmingham Crown Court. |
| After the verdicts were returned, the judge, Mrs Justice Geraldine Andrews, told jurors they would be excused from future jury service because of the upsetting nature of the evidence they had heard. | After the verdicts were returned, the judge, Mrs Justice Geraldine Andrews, told jurors they would be excused from future jury service because of the upsetting nature of the evidence they had heard. |
| Live updates on this story | Live updates on this story |
| Smith and Rigby will be sentenced on Monday. | Smith and Rigby will be sentenced on Monday. |
| 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. |
| Analysis by Peter Wilson, BBC Midlands Today Special Correspondent | |
| Some children's charities are already comparing this death with the notorious Baby Peter case. | |
| There was a pattern of non-accidental injuries stretching back to the time Ayeeshia was returned to the care of her mother. She had thrived while in foster care but was malnourished and at the bottom of the child weight charts by the time of her death. | |
| In hindsight, professionals seem to have missed a number of red-flag moments that should have alerted them to step in, especially a life-threatening event when the toddler collapsed and was rushed to hospital three months before her death. | |
| Children's Services were not even aware she required resuscitation. The diagnosis of a febrile convulsion had actually come from the child's mother, not from any expert. No tests were carried out on Ayeeshia, which would have shown the brain and spinal column bleed she'd suffered, likely caused by violent shaking. | |
| A serious case review by Derbyshire County Council is under way and it won't be known until its publication what mistakes, if any, were made. | |
| 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". |
| 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 each claimed the other was the last to see the girl. | They changed their stories several times and each claimed the 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. |
| 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. |
| The trial heard social services were aware of Ayeeshia from birth. | The trial heard social services were 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. |
| Serious case review | Serious case review |
| Andrew Stokes, interim chair of Derbyshire Safeguarding Children Board, said: "The death of a child is a tragedy and I'd like to express my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew AJ. | Andrew Stokes, interim chair of Derbyshire Safeguarding Children Board, said: "The death of a child is a tragedy and I'd like to express my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew AJ. |
| "All the agencies involved with the family have contributed to a serious case review which has been held to identify any lessons that can be learned. | "All the agencies involved with the family have contributed to a serious case review which has been held to identify any lessons that can be learned. |
| "New information has emerged during the criminal trial which we need to consider before we can publish the findings of the review to ensure it is as robust and fully informed as possible. | "New information has emerged during the criminal trial which we need to consider before we can publish the findings of the review to ensure it is as robust and fully informed as possible. |
| "It is important that we take the time to look at this thoroughly to ensure we maintain the highest possible standards to safeguard children and young people across Derbyshire." | "It is important that we take the time to look at this thoroughly to ensure we maintain the highest possible standards to safeguard children and young people across Derbyshire." |