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Bristol woman cleared of encouraging partner to shoot crying child Bristol woman cleared of encouraging partner to shoot crying child
(about 1 hour later)
A woman has been acquitted of encouraging her boyfriend to shoot a crying child in the head with an air rifle pellet.A woman has been acquitted of encouraging her boyfriend to shoot a crying child in the head with an air rifle pellet.
A jury took 35 minutes to find Emma Horseman, 24, not guilty of unlawfully and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm on 18-month-old Harry Studley.A jury took 35 minutes to find Emma Horseman, 24, not guilty of unlawfully and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm on 18-month-old Harry Studley.
Horseman’s boyfriend, Jordan Walters, previously admitted the same charge.Horseman’s boyfriend, Jordan Walters, previously admitted the same charge.
Horseman was accused of telling Walters: “Shoot Harry, just to frighten him, to shut him up, shoot it at Harry,” as the boy – the son of a friend – cried at their flat in Bristol in July last year.Horseman was accused of telling Walters: “Shoot Harry, just to frighten him, to shut him up, shoot it at Harry,” as the boy – the son of a friend – cried at their flat in Bristol in July last year.
During the two-day trial Horseman told the court that Harry was injured while she was chatting with Harry’s mother, Amy Allen.During the two-day trial Horseman told the court that Harry was injured while she was chatting with Harry’s mother, Amy Allen.
She said: “I couldn’t see what Jordan was doing. All I know was that he was cleaning the gun. I know he had the gun out but I couldn’t see him.”She said: “I couldn’t see what Jordan was doing. All I know was that he was cleaning the gun. I know he had the gun out but I couldn’t see him.”
She denied telling Walters to shoot Harry, telling the jury: “I can’t remember saying that.”She denied telling Walters to shoot Harry, telling the jury: “I can’t remember saying that.”
Paul Cook, defending, asked Horseman: “What was the first you knew about the gun being fired?”Paul Cook, defending, asked Horseman: “What was the first you knew about the gun being fired?”
She replied: “I didn’t even know it was. I just looked down and looked up and saw Harry was bleeding. That’s all that I can remember. Harry was sat on his mum’s lap.She replied: “I didn’t even know it was. I just looked down and looked up and saw Harry was bleeding. That’s all that I can remember. Harry was sat on his mum’s lap.
“Jordan said to Amy: ‘What do I do?’ and Amy said: ‘Ring the ambulance,’ and that’s what he did. There was lots of ambulances arriving. It just happened so fast. I just remember Harry bleeding and the police turning up. I can’t remember anything else.”“Jordan said to Amy: ‘What do I do?’ and Amy said: ‘Ring the ambulance,’ and that’s what he did. There was lots of ambulances arriving. It just happened so fast. I just remember Harry bleeding and the police turning up. I can’t remember anything else.”
Asked how she felt about the incident, Horseman replied: “Horrible, I felt bad, sick … like that could have been my child.”Asked how she felt about the incident, Horseman replied: “Horrible, I felt bad, sick … like that could have been my child.”
Harry underwent emergency surgery at Bristol children’s hospital. He had suffered a displaced skull fracture and swelling and bleeding on the brain after being shot in the right temple.Harry underwent emergency surgery at Bristol children’s hospital. He had suffered a displaced skull fracture and swelling and bleeding on the brain after being shot in the right temple.
The pellet has not been found. The boy, now two, has several post-traumatic seizures each day and is being treated with anticonvulsant drugs.The pellet has not been found. The boy, now two, has several post-traumatic seizures each day and is being treated with anticonvulsant drugs.
Jurors were not told that Harry had been left blinded in one eye as a result of his head injury.
Horseman did not comment as she was driven away from court by members of her family.Horseman did not comment as she was driven away from court by members of her family.
Walters will be sentenced at a later date.Walters will be sentenced at a later date.