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Ben Butler murder trial: Girl died 'being thrown against a wall' | Ben Butler murder trial: Girl died 'being thrown against a wall' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A six-year-old girl's "catastrophic" head injuries could not have been caused by an accidental fall, as claimed by her father, a court heard. | A six-year-old girl's "catastrophic" head injuries could not have been caused by an accidental fall, as claimed by her father, a court heard. |
Paramedics found Ellie Butler lying beside a low child's stool at her home in Sutton, south-west London. | Paramedics found Ellie Butler lying beside a low child's stool at her home in Sutton, south-west London. |
Her father Ben Butler claims she fell, but the prosecution said her injuries were caused by being thrown against a wall or hit with a "blunt weapon". | Her father Ben Butler claims she fell, but the prosecution said her injuries were caused by being thrown against a wall or hit with a "blunt weapon". |
The 36-year-old denies murder and a separate charge of child cruelty. | The 36-year-old denies murder and a separate charge of child cruelty. |
At the Old Bailey, prosecutor Ed Brown QC said a post-mortem examination revealed the child suffered skull fractures from at least two severe impacts. | At the Old Bailey, prosecutor Ed Brown QC said a post-mortem examination revealed the child suffered skull fractures from at least two severe impacts. |
Read more updates on this story and other news from London | Read more updates on this story and other news from London |
He said the doctor who carried out the examination and a neurological pathologist agreed her injuries were unlikely to have been caused by an accidental fall. | |
A third expert, a forensic pathologist, believed Ellie's major head injury was "the result of one or more very forceful blunt impacts, arising through being thrown against a wall or the ground, or struck with a heavy blunt weapon", the court heard. | |
"A domestic accident could not have given rise to these complex, catastrophic and rapidly fatal injuries," Mr Brown added. | |
The court has heard how Ellie's parents, Mr Butler and Jennie Gray, summoned an ambulance two hours after her injuries were believed to have been caused. | The court has heard how Ellie's parents, Mr Butler and Jennie Gray, summoned an ambulance two hours after her injuries were believed to have been caused. |
Mr Butler and Ms Gray, also 36, deny child cruelty over an untreated broken shoulder Ellie suffered weeks before her death. | Mr Butler and Ms Gray, also 36, deny child cruelty over an untreated broken shoulder Ellie suffered weeks before her death. |
Ms Gray has admitted perverting the course of justice. | Ms Gray has admitted perverting the course of justice. |
Mr Brown told jurors it was a "distressing case" of a father accused of murdering his daughter and failing to seek medical help for her earlier injury. | Mr Brown told jurors it was a "distressing case" of a father accused of murdering his daughter and failing to seek medical help for her earlier injury. |
Ms Gray had been "determined and persistent" in trying to protect him by hiding and destroying evidence, he said. | Ms Gray had been "determined and persistent" in trying to protect him by hiding and destroying evidence, he said. |
On the day of Ellie's death, on 28 October 2013, Mr Butler and Ms Gray exchanged a series of phone calls and texts, records show. | On the day of Ellie's death, on 28 October 2013, Mr Butler and Ms Gray exchanged a series of phone calls and texts, records show. |
Assault conviction quashed | Assault conviction quashed |
He tried to call her at her office at 12:46 but reached a voicemail message and sent a text asking her to "answer". | |
Her colleague Tracey Bernstein said in a statement that the way Ms Gray got up and left the office was "just not right". | |
Another former workmate, Victoria Harris, said she had seen Ms Gray looking "agitated" on the phone. "It did appear to me it was more than just a secret conversation," she added. | |
Minutes later Ms Gray was caught on CCTV dashing out of her office, near the Old Bailey. | |
She sent a text to her manager to say she had left for home as she was "feeling unwell". | She sent a text to her manager to say she had left for home as she was "feeling unwell". |
But taxi driver Derek Greenwood, who drove her back to Sutton, overheard her on her mobile phone saying loudly "you have done what?", "you have gone where?" and "you're joking". | |
The court also heard from their neighbour, Lucy Jackson who recalled hearing arguments and a raised male voice coming from their home. | |
Jurors have previously been told that Mr Butler has had a conviction for assaulting Ellie as a baby quashed. Her parents then won a High Court ruling to return her to the family from foster care. | Jurors have previously been told that Mr Butler has had a conviction for assaulting Ellie as a baby quashed. Her parents then won a High Court ruling to return her to the family from foster care. |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |