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Babysitter 'murdered baby girl' Babysitter 'murdered baby girl'
(about 4 hours later)
A baby girl died at the hands of her babysitter after suffering injuries consistent with being swung and thrown against a wall, a court has heard.A baby girl died at the hands of her babysitter after suffering injuries consistent with being swung and thrown against a wall, a court has heard.
Lynn Jeffrey, 37, of Nelson, Lancashire, is accused of murdering 11-month-old Courtney Ann Shales in a "brutal and callous attack".Lynn Jeffrey, 37, of Nelson, Lancashire, is accused of murdering 11-month-old Courtney Ann Shales in a "brutal and callous attack".
Preston Crown Court heard that the child suffered injuries similar to those of a car accident.Preston Crown Court heard that the child suffered injuries similar to those of a car accident.
Ms Jeffrey denies killing the child in August 2006, when she was babysitting.Ms Jeffrey denies killing the child in August 2006, when she was babysitting.
Andrew O'Byrne QC, prosecuting, said Courtney's mother Samantha Shales had been out drinking in several pubs in Nelson on 23 August last year.Andrew O'Byrne QC, prosecuting, said Courtney's mother Samantha Shales had been out drinking in several pubs in Nelson on 23 August last year.
She wanted to continue drinking and asked her father, Kenneth, to babysit Courtney but he declined. She wanted to continue drinking and after seeing the defendant in the Clayton pub in Nelson asked her to babysit, the court heard.
'Fell down stairs' I asked her what happened and she said she had fallen down the stairs Andrew Elliot, witness
She then saw the defendant in the Clayton pub in Manchester Road, Nelson, an acquaintance whom she barely knew and asked her to babysit, the court heard.
Ms Jeffrey agreed to do so with her boyfriend, Andrew Elliott, at Miss Shales' home in Railway Street.Ms Jeffrey agreed to do so with her boyfriend, Andrew Elliott, at Miss Shales' home in Railway Street.
In a statement read to the court, Miss Shales said Mr Elliott appeared drunk but Ms Jeffrey was "all right".
She said: "As I waved to Courtney, she waved back at me. I had no concerns for her welfare and said I'd only be a couple of hours."
Mr O'Byrne said Courtney was a fit, healthy child, but did suffer from a condition known as PKU, a protein deficiency, which could lead to severe learning difficulties if left untreated.Mr O'Byrne said Courtney was a fit, healthy child, but did suffer from a condition known as PKU, a protein deficiency, which could lead to severe learning difficulties if left untreated.
Later that night Ms Jeffrey rang an ambulance, saying the child was not breathing. Giving evidence for the prosecution, Mr Elliott told Mr O'Byrne that the baby had been crying and that they had struggled to calm her down.
In the ambulance, Ms Jeffrey said Courtney had fallen off the bed and then down the stairs. He said he left the house at about 2150 BST to buy some chocolate and was away for about 10 minutes.
Mr O'Byrne said that when one of the paramedics picked Courtney up he felt the back of the child's head collapse inwards. She died shortly later. Multiple fractures
When he returned Ms Jeffrey was standing at the bottom of the stairs and Courtney was lying on the floor beside her, Mr Elliot told the court.
He said: "I asked her what happened and she said she had fallen down the stairs."
Home Office pathologist Dr Charles Wilson conducted a post-mortem examination that showed multiple fractures to the skull.Home Office pathologist Dr Charles Wilson conducted a post-mortem examination that showed multiple fractures to the skull.
In his opinion, he said, the injuries were consistent with her being swung by her limbs and then having her head struck into a hard surface such as a wall.In his opinion, he said, the injuries were consistent with her being swung by her limbs and then having her head struck into a hard surface such as a wall.
'False account'
The other possibility was that the child had been hit by a blunt object.The other possibility was that the child had been hit by a blunt object.
Consultant paediatrician Dr Brendan Wilson said X-rays had shown the child received a large number of blows to the head.Consultant paediatrician Dr Brendan Wilson said X-rays had shown the child received a large number of blows to the head.
Boyfriend blamed
Ms Jeffrey was arrested at the hospital and when interviewed by police maintained the account that Courtney had fallen down the stairs.Ms Jeffrey was arrested at the hospital and when interviewed by police maintained the account that Courtney had fallen down the stairs.
She said she had asked her boyfriend to go to the shops to buy some chocolate to help with her diabetes and it was while he was out the child had fallen down the stairs "like a football". Mr O'Byrne said her account had since changed and she was now saying that Mr Elliott inflicted the injuries.
Mr O'Byrne said Ms Jeffrey's account had since changed and she was now saying that Mr Elliott inflicted the injuries. Tony Cross QC, cross examining, suggested that Mr Elliot had been in an aggressive mood because he had been asked to babysit.
He said: "She will say that Andrew Elliott injured the baby and did not leave the house. He alleged that Ms Jeffrey left him alone with the child while she went to the toilet and emerged to find him holding her by the ankles.
"She will say she gave a false account because she was frightened of Mr Elliott and his family. "You took the child to the landing and flung the child across the wall three times," Mr Cross told him.
"She will seek to shift the blame to avoid the consequences of her terrible actions that night." "You were in a rage fuelled by drink and you then threw the child down the stairs, hitting a broken spindle on the way down. That is how the child was injured?"
The trial continues. Mr Elliott replied this was not the case.
The hearing was adjourned until Wednesday when Mr Cross will continue his cross examination of Mr Elliott.