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Jordan Burling death: Mother and grandmother guilty of manslaughter | Jordan Burling death: Mother and grandmother guilty of manslaughter |
(35 minutes later) | |
The mother and grandmother of an emaciated man who was allowed to "rot to death" have been convicted of his manslaughter. | The mother and grandmother of an emaciated man who was allowed to "rot to death" have been convicted of his manslaughter. |
Jordan Burling, 18, went into cardiac arrest in Leeds in 2016 and died weighing less than six stone (37kg). | Jordan Burling, 18, went into cardiac arrest in Leeds in 2016 and died weighing less than six stone (37kg). |
Mother Dawn Cranston and grandmother Denise were both convicted after a trial at Leeds Crown Court. | Mother Dawn Cranston and grandmother Denise were both convicted after a trial at Leeds Crown Court. |
Mr Burling's sister Abigail Burling, 25, was convicted of causing or allowing a vulnerable adult's death. | Mr Burling's sister Abigail Burling, 25, was convicted of causing or allowing a vulnerable adult's death. |
The jury cleared her of manslaughter, following more than two days of deliberations. | The jury cleared her of manslaughter, following more than two days of deliberations. |
On the day Mr Burling died, paramedics found him wearing a soiled nappy and lying in an unresponsive state on a makeshift inflatable bed in the living room of the house in Butterbowl Garth, Farnley. | On the day Mr Burling died, paramedics found him wearing a soiled nappy and lying in an unresponsive state on a makeshift inflatable bed in the living room of the house in Butterbowl Garth, Farnley. |
A subsequent police search of the property found the remains of a baby boy in a rucksack, hidden on the top shelf of a cupboard in Jordan's bedroom for 14 years. | A subsequent police search of the property found the remains of a baby boy in a rucksack, hidden on the top shelf of a cupboard in Jordan's bedroom for 14 years. |
Dawn Cranston earlier admitted a count of endeavouring to conceal the birth of a child. | Dawn Cranston earlier admitted a count of endeavouring to conceal the birth of a child. |
At the time of Mr Burling's death, his appearance was likened to a victim of a World War Two concentration camp, with an NHS dietician telling the court he had the lowest body mass index she had ever seen. | At the time of Mr Burling's death, his appearance was likened to a victim of a World War Two concentration camp, with an NHS dietician telling the court he had the lowest body mass index she had ever seen. |
The Crown Prosecution Service described the case as "one of the most shocking" they had ever dealt with in the Yorkshire region. | The Crown Prosecution Service described the case as "one of the most shocking" they had ever dealt with in the Yorkshire region. |
Mr Burling had lived with Ms Cranston, 45, Mrs Cranston, 70 and Jordan's uncle, with his sister living a short distance away in Cow Close Road. | Mr Burling had lived with Ms Cranston, 45, Mrs Cranston, 70 and Jordan's uncle, with his sister living a short distance away in Cow Close Road. |
It was estimated he had been malnourished for at least six months before he died, having developed bed sores so deep they left bone exposed. | It was estimated he had been malnourished for at least six months before he died, having developed bed sores so deep they left bone exposed. |
Paramedic Bridget Shepherd, who treated Mr Burling, said he looked "very, very pale and very emaciated" when she first arrived on 30 June 2016, the day he died. | Paramedic Bridget Shepherd, who treated Mr Burling, said he looked "very, very pale and very emaciated" when she first arrived on 30 June 2016, the day he died. |
A post-mortem examination found he died from acute bronchopneumonia, resulting from his malnutrition, his immobility and his infected sores. | A post-mortem examination found he died from acute bronchopneumonia, resulting from his malnutrition, his immobility and his infected sores. |
In his early life, a primary school report stated there was a "general neglect of Jordan's basic needs", with the young boy lacking toilet training, having black teeth, and few language skills. | In his early life, a primary school report stated there was a "general neglect of Jordan's basic needs", with the young boy lacking toilet training, having black teeth, and few language skills. |
Prosecutor Nicholas Lumley QC said "education and social services played little part in his life", particularly after his mother decided to home-school him from the age of 12. | Prosecutor Nicholas Lumley QC said "education and social services played little part in his life", particularly after his mother decided to home-school him from the age of 12. |
The trial heard from a neighbour, who said the family was considered "strange and reclusive" by locals. | The trial heard from a neighbour, who said the family was considered "strange and reclusive" by locals. |
PC Ben McNamara, who arrived at the home shortly after Mr Burling's death, told the court the first thing Dawn Cranston asked him was how much the funeral would cost. | PC Ben McNamara, who arrived at the home shortly after Mr Burling's death, told the court the first thing Dawn Cranston asked him was how much the funeral would cost. |
"I was surprised by everyone's lack of emotion. It is a strange thing to say after he had just died," he said. | "I was surprised by everyone's lack of emotion. It is a strange thing to say after he had just died," he said. |
Mr Burling was home-schooled by his mother from the age of 12 after being bullied at school. | Mr Burling was home-schooled by his mother from the age of 12 after being bullied at school. |
His family claimed his weight fluctuated around Christmas 2015 but he started to look "very thin" the following April. | His family claimed his weight fluctuated around Christmas 2015 but he started to look "very thin" the following April. |
Mr Lumley said Mr Burling's three relatives "failed to seek medical assistance for him as he became immobile and helpless." | Mr Lumley said Mr Burling's three relatives "failed to seek medical assistance for him as he became immobile and helpless." |
In the final months of his life, he was confined to the living room with his family changing his adult nappy and washing him. | In the final months of his life, he was confined to the living room with his family changing his adult nappy and washing him. |
During the trial, the jury heard the family home was targeted by youths throwing projectiles at windows regularly around 2006. | During the trial, the jury heard the family home was targeted by youths throwing projectiles at windows regularly around 2006. |
It was around this time that Denise Cranston's husband Herbert committed suicide in a bedroom, the court heard. | It was around this time that Denise Cranston's husband Herbert committed suicide in a bedroom, the court heard. |
'I just panicked' | 'I just panicked' |
While giving evidence, Ms Cranston told the jury about an incident "in 2002 or 2003" when she had given birth alone in Jordan's bedroom while her family were all downstairs. | While giving evidence, Ms Cranston told the jury about an incident "in 2002 or 2003" when she had given birth alone in Jordan's bedroom while her family were all downstairs. |
She told jurors he was completely unaware she was pregnant until she started to feel something "really heavy" in her body, and had given birth within half an hour. | She told jurors he was completely unaware she was pregnant until she started to feel something "really heavy" in her body, and had given birth within half an hour. |
The court heard "she tried everything" for up to an hour to save the baby's life including mouth-to-mouth resuscitation but there "were no signs of life at all". | The court heard "she tried everything" for up to an hour to save the baby's life including mouth-to-mouth resuscitation but there "were no signs of life at all". |
"I just panicked, as nobody else knew that I was pregnant," she said. | "I just panicked, as nobody else knew that I was pregnant," she said. |
The court heard she hid the remains of the baby in a rucksack, which she then stored in the top of a wardrobe. | The court heard she hid the remains of the baby in a rucksack, which she then stored in the top of a wardrobe. |
The three women are due to be sentenced on Thursday. |