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| Ben Butler trial: Letters describe couple's turbulent relationship | Ben Butler trial: Letters describe couple's turbulent relationship |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A couple's turbulent relationship has been revealed in letters found after their six-year-old daughter died from head injuries. | A couple's turbulent relationship has been revealed in letters found after their six-year-old daughter died from head injuries. |
| Ben Butler is accused of killing Ellie Butler at their family home in Sutton, south-west London in October. | Ben Butler is accused of killing Ellie Butler at their family home in Sutton, south-west London in October. |
| A jury heard how Ellie lived in a "toxic" environment due to Mr Butler's volatile temper, while partner Jennie Gray would do anything to please him. | A jury heard how Ellie lived in a "toxic" environment due to Mr Butler's volatile temper, while partner Jennie Gray would do anything to please him. |
| 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. |
| Ellie's mother Ms Gray, 36, also denies a child cruelty charge relating to a shoulder injury. | Ellie's mother Ms Gray, 36, also denies a child cruelty charge relating to a shoulder injury. |
| She has admitted perverting the course of justice. | She has admitted perverting the course of justice. |
| 'Bloody good job' | |
| The prosecution has said she gave a "lying account" to police of events leading up to Ellie's death and showed jurors a video of an interview. | |
| It showed Ms Gray weeping as she described finding Ellie lying on the floor of her pink bedroom not breathing. | |
| She told a detective: "I don't believe Ben's done anything to her" and said that Mr Butler cared for Ellie while she was at work and "did a bloody good job" as a parent. | |
| Ellie died 11 months after the couple got her back from care. | Ellie died 11 months after the couple got her back from care. |
| She was returned to them after Mr Butler was cleared on appeal of assaulting her as a six-week-old baby. | She was returned to them after Mr Butler was cleared on appeal of assaulting her as a six-week-old baby. |
| A post-mortem examination revealed she suffered skull fractures from at least two severe impacts. | A post-mortem examination revealed she suffered skull fractures from at least two severe impacts. |
| 'Angry, hateful and violent' | 'Angry, hateful and violent' |
| The Old Bailey was shown handwritten letters and prayers seized by police at the family home in Westover Close following Ellie's death. | The Old Bailey was shown handwritten letters and prayers seized by police at the family home in Westover Close following Ellie's death. |
| One "letter of prayer" found inside the bedroom at the couple's home read: "Make him stop being angry, hateful and violent." | One "letter of prayer" found inside the bedroom at the couple's home read: "Make him stop being angry, hateful and violent." |
| Another read: "Please don't let Ben leave me but make him learn to like me. | Another read: "Please don't let Ben leave me but make him learn to like me. |
| "Stop violence and make him WANT ME and be there at the birth if I have a baby boy." | "Stop violence and make him WANT ME and be there at the birth if I have a baby boy." |
| In a letter from Mr Butler to Ms Gray, he asked her to "try harder with your mouth as it's a trigger for me". | In a letter from Mr Butler to Ms Gray, he asked her to "try harder with your mouth as it's a trigger for me". |
| He also wrote: "I would be lost without you." | He also wrote: "I would be lost without you." |
| A note entitled "Ellie's behaviour" outlined 10 points including: "lying, not doing as she's told, does not listen or pay attention, constantly answers back, argues, constantly manipulative, feel you can't trust her, acts like a child prior to her years, we feel she is aware she is doing this". | A note entitled "Ellie's behaviour" outlined 10 points including: "lying, not doing as she's told, does not listen or pay attention, constantly answers back, argues, constantly manipulative, feel you can't trust her, acts like a child prior to her years, we feel she is aware she is doing this". |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |