This article is from the source 'guardian' 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 https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/oct/09/man-murdered-infant-daughter-two-weeks-after-adoption-trial-told-elsie-cardiff
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Man murdered infant daughter two weeks after adoption, trial told | Man murdered infant daughter two weeks after adoption, trial told |
| (4 months later) | |
| Matthew Scully-Hicks, 31, is accused of killing 18-month-old Elsie after ‘assaulting and abusing’ her at their home in Cardiff | |
| Steven Morris and agencies | |
| Mon 9 Oct 2017 14.54 BST | |
| Last modified on Mon 27 Nov 2017 15.44 GMT | |
| Share on Facebook | |
| Share on Twitter | |
| Share via Email | |
| View more sharing options | |
| Share on LinkedIn | |
| Share on Pinterest | |
| Share on Google+ | |
| Share on WhatsApp | |
| Share on Messenger | |
| Close | |
| A fitness instructor murdered his 18-month-old daughter just two weeks after he and his husband formally adopted her, a jury has been told. | A fitness instructor murdered his 18-month-old daughter just two weeks after he and his husband formally adopted her, a jury has been told. |
| Matthew Scully-Hicks, 31, allegedly physically abused Elsie for months before shaking her to death at the four-bedroom family home in the Cardiff suburb of Llandaff. | Matthew Scully-Hicks, 31, allegedly physically abused Elsie for months before shaking her to death at the four-bedroom family home in the Cardiff suburb of Llandaff. |
| The jury was told that Scully-Hicks was struggling to cope with the girl, telling his husband, Craig Scully-Hicks, that Elsie was “a psycho” and “satan dressed up in a babygrow”, while neighbours allegedly heard him swearing at and insulting the child. | The jury was told that Scully-Hicks was struggling to cope with the girl, telling his husband, Craig Scully-Hicks, that Elsie was “a psycho” and “satan dressed up in a babygrow”, while neighbours allegedly heard him swearing at and insulting the child. |
| Cardiff crown court heard that the couple began looking after Elsie in September 2015 and the adoption process was finalised on 12 May 2016. Matthew Scully-Hicks stayed at home to look after Elsie and her adoptive sibling while Craig, a company director, went out to work. | Cardiff crown court heard that the couple began looking after Elsie in September 2015 and the adoption process was finalised on 12 May 2016. Matthew Scully-Hicks stayed at home to look after Elsie and her adoptive sibling while Craig, a company director, went out to work. |
| On 25 May 2016 at 6.18pm, Wales ambulance service received a 999 call from Matthew Scully-Hicks. | On 25 May 2016 at 6.18pm, Wales ambulance service received a 999 call from Matthew Scully-Hicks. |
| “I was just changing my daughter for bed and she went all floppy and limp,” he told the operator. During the 999 call, Scully-Hicks could be heard saying: “Oh my God” and “this is horrible”. | “I was just changing my daughter for bed and she went all floppy and limp,” he told the operator. During the 999 call, Scully-Hicks could be heard saying: “Oh my God” and “this is horrible”. |
| Paramedics and police found Elsie not breathing and in cardiac arrest. Scully-Hicks allegedly explained to a paramedic the child had “screamed out as if in pain, then collapsed”. | Paramedics and police found Elsie not breathing and in cardiac arrest. Scully-Hicks allegedly explained to a paramedic the child had “screamed out as if in pain, then collapsed”. |
| At the hospital, Scully-Hicks told police, doctors and his husband that he had changed Elsie on the floor in front of the television. | At the hospital, Scully-Hicks told police, doctors and his husband that he had changed Elsie on the floor in front of the television. |
| He said he took the dirty nappy out to the kitchen, leaving Elsie on the floor and returned to find her apparently sleeping. He said she did not respond and he began CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). | He said he took the dirty nappy out to the kitchen, leaving Elsie on the floor and returned to find her apparently sleeping. He said she did not respond and he began CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). |
| Paul Lewis QC, prosecuting, said: “The injuries that caused Elsie’s death were inflicted upon her by the defendant shortly before he called the emergency services. | Paul Lewis QC, prosecuting, said: “The injuries that caused Elsie’s death were inflicted upon her by the defendant shortly before he called the emergency services. |
| “We allege that his actions on 25 May were the tragic culmination of a course of violence conduct towards a defenceless child – an infant he should have loved and protected, but whom he instead assaulted, abused and ultimately murdered.” | “We allege that his actions on 25 May were the tragic culmination of a course of violence conduct towards a defenceless child – an infant he should have loved and protected, but whom he instead assaulted, abused and ultimately murdered.” |
| A postmortem found Elsie had recent and older bleeding on both sides of her brain. She had haemorrhages in both eyes and fractures to her skull and her ribs. | A postmortem found Elsie had recent and older bleeding on both sides of her brain. She had haemorrhages in both eyes and fractures to her skull and her ribs. |
| Lewis told the jury that a consultant paediatrician, Stephen Rose, said he believed Elsie died after she was shaken violently. Consultant neuroradiologist Neil Stoodley concluded Elsie suffered “abusive head trauma that involved a shaking mechanism”. | Lewis told the jury that a consultant paediatrician, Stephen Rose, said he believed Elsie died after she was shaken violently. Consultant neuroradiologist Neil Stoodley concluded Elsie suffered “abusive head trauma that involved a shaking mechanism”. |
| The prosecutor outlined previous injuries Elsie allegedly suffered. On 5 November 2015, she sustained two fractures to her right leg and in December a bruise to her head. Scully-Hicks claimed in each case she had fallen. | The prosecutor outlined previous injuries Elsie allegedly suffered. On 5 November 2015, she sustained two fractures to her right leg and in December a bruise to her head. Scully-Hicks claimed in each case she had fallen. |
| On 10 March, Craig Scully-Hicks received a phone call from his husband saying that he was in an ambulance with Elsie as she had fallen down the stairs. Elsie’s injuries were considered to be consistent with such a fall and she was allowed to go home. | On 10 March, Craig Scully-Hicks received a phone call from his husband saying that he was in an ambulance with Elsie as she had fallen down the stairs. Elsie’s injuries were considered to be consistent with such a fall and she was allowed to go home. |
| Jurors were told the child was described as “tiny and delicate” but with a “brash and bouncy” personality by Craig Scully-Hicks. | Jurors were told the child was described as “tiny and delicate” but with a “brash and bouncy” personality by Craig Scully-Hicks. |
| But the court heard that on 22 September 2015 – 12 days after Elsie arrived – Matthew Scully-Hicks sent a message to a friend saying: “I’m going through hell with Elsie! Mealtimes and bedtime are like my worst nightmare at the moment. She’s been up there screaming for 10 minutes non stop. She’s just stopped but I doubt that’s the last I’ll hear tonight.” | But the court heard that on 22 September 2015 – 12 days after Elsie arrived – Matthew Scully-Hicks sent a message to a friend saying: “I’m going through hell with Elsie! Mealtimes and bedtime are like my worst nightmare at the moment. She’s been up there screaming for 10 minutes non stop. She’s just stopped but I doubt that’s the last I’ll hear tonight.” |
| That evening he also sent a message to Craig calling Elsie “a psycho” and on 29 September, he sent a message to his husband describing Elsie as “Satan dressed up in a babygrow”. | That evening he also sent a message to Craig calling Elsie “a psycho” and on 29 September, he sent a message to his husband describing Elsie as “Satan dressed up in a babygrow”. |
| Mother and son Susan and James Bevan, who lived next door, said they heard Scully-Hicks apparently shouting at Elsie. One one occasion he was allegedly heard yelling: “Shut up you little fucking brat.” | Mother and son Susan and James Bevan, who lived next door, said they heard Scully-Hicks apparently shouting at Elsie. One one occasion he was allegedly heard yelling: “Shut up you little fucking brat.” |
| The court heard that Matthew Scully-Hicks has no criminal convictions. He met his husband while living in Wiltshire in about 2006. The couple relocated to south Wales, where Scully-Hicks is from, in 2010. | The court heard that Matthew Scully-Hicks has no criminal convictions. He met his husband while living in Wiltshire in about 2006. The couple relocated to south Wales, where Scully-Hicks is from, in 2010. |
| They married in Portugal in August 2012 and applied to become adopters later that year. It was agreed that Scully-Hicks would give up full-time work to care for any children, with his husband continuing with his job. | They married in Portugal in August 2012 and applied to become adopters later that year. It was agreed that Scully-Hicks would give up full-time work to care for any children, with his husband continuing with his job. |
| Representing Scully-Hicks, Robert O’Sullivan QC said his client denied causing the injuries to Elsie. | Representing Scully-Hicks, Robert O’Sullivan QC said his client denied causing the injuries to Elsie. |
| He said: “You will hear witness after witness speak of Mr Scully-Hicks’ palpable love and devotion to both of his children and of the deep and loving bond that he had developed with Elsie.” | He said: “You will hear witness after witness speak of Mr Scully-Hicks’ palpable love and devotion to both of his children and of the deep and loving bond that he had developed with Elsie.” |
| O’Sullivan said his client had repeatedly taken Elsie to the doctor and other healthcare professionals. He said the couple were closely monitored by social services and the authorities through the adoption process. | O’Sullivan said his client had repeatedly taken Elsie to the doctor and other healthcare professionals. He said the couple were closely monitored by social services and the authorities through the adoption process. |
| Elsie may have had insufficient vitamin D levels, affecting the density and structure of her bones, making them more susceptible to fracturing, he added. | Elsie may have had insufficient vitamin D levels, affecting the density and structure of her bones, making them more susceptible to fracturing, he added. |
| Elsie was removed from her natural mother, a drug user, within days of her birth in November 2014, the court heard. She was placed in the care of Vale of Glamorgan council and later went to live with the Scully-Hicks when she was 10 months. | Elsie was removed from her natural mother, a drug user, within days of her birth in November 2014, the court heard. She was placed in the care of Vale of Glamorgan council and later went to live with the Scully-Hicks when she was 10 months. |
| Scully-Hicks denies murdering the child. The trial, expected to last five weeks, continues. | Scully-Hicks denies murdering the child. The trial, expected to last five weeks, continues. |
| UK news | |
| Share on Facebook | |
| Share on Twitter | |
| Share via Email | |
| Share on LinkedIn | |
| Share on Pinterest | |
| Share on Google+ | |
| Share on WhatsApp | |
| Share on Messenger | |
| Reuse this content |