This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/7092381.stm

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Childminder guilty of baby death Childminder guilty of baby death
(11 minutes later)
A registered child minder has been found guilty of killing an 11-month-old baby in her care by violently shaking her in a fit of temper. A childminder from Buckinghamshire has been found guilty of killing a young baby in her care by violently shaking her in a fit of temper.
Keran Henderson, 40, from Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, has been convicted of manslaughter at Reading Crown Court. Keran Henderson, 40, from Iver Heath, was convicted of manslaughter at Reading Crown Court.
Henderson had denied the manslaughter of baby Maeve Sheppard who died in March 2005 at an address in Iver Heath. Henderson had denied the manslaughter of 11-month-old baby Maeve Sheppard, who died in March 2005.
The mother-of-two was in sole charge of the baby when she was taken to hospital unconscious and critically ill.The mother-of-two was in sole charge of the baby when she was taken to hospital unconscious and critically ill.
The jury convicted Henderson by a majority of ten to two after deliberating for over 12 hours at the end of a five-week trial.The jury convicted Henderson by a majority of ten to two after deliberating for over 12 hours at the end of a five-week trial.
Neck snappedNeck snapped
Henderson, who ran her child minding business from her home at Iver Heath in Buckinghamshire, was hired in January 2005 to look after Maeve by her parents Ruth and Mark. Henderson, who ran her childminding business from her home at Iver Heath in Buckinghamshire, was hired in January 2005 to look after Maeve by her parents Ruth and Mark.
When taken to hospital doctors fought to save her but her condition deteriorated and her life support machine was turned off two days later, following a short Christening ceremony. When the baby was taken to hospital doctors fought to save her but her condition deteriorated and her life support machine was turned off two days later, following a short Christening ceremony.
Medical experts for the Crown told the jury the injuries Maeve suffered could only have been caused by violent shaking. Medical experts, appearing for the prosecution, told the jury the injuries Maeve suffered could only have been caused by violent shaking.
Her neck ligaments were "over-extended", indicating that her neck had snapped back and forth.Her neck ligaments were "over-extended", indicating that her neck had snapped back and forth.
Henderson, 43, who had seven years experience as a child minder and was also a Beaver Scout leader, claimed Maeve had a seizure while she was changing her nappy. Henderson, 43, who had seven years experience as a childminder and was also a Beaver Scout leader, claimed Maeve had a seizure while she was changing her nappy.
Expert witnesses for the defence said the injuries could have been days, weeks or even months old.
'Total shock'
Henderson claimed the baby had been repeatedly ill, virtually from the first day she was in her care, but Maeve's parents denied this claim.
Henderson said that on 2 March Maeve's body "stiffened and jerked back" as she changed her nappy and the baby's eyes rolled back into her head.
Her body went floppy and she was gurgling as if something was stuck in her throat, she told the court.
In the days following this Mrs Henderson said she gave up child minding.
"I wasn't able to look after the children. I was basically curled up in a ball on the settee, shaking and crying, in total shock," she told the jury.
The jury rejected her account, agreeing with the prosecution that Henderson violently shook Maeve, causing the child's death.
Proceedings have been adjourned.Proceedings have been adjourned.