This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-21031410
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Keanu Williams's mother and partner 'beat him to death' | Keanu Williams's mother and partner 'beat him to death' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A two-year-old boy was "beaten to death" by his mother and her boyfriend in Birmingham, a jury has been told. | A two-year-old boy was "beaten to death" by his mother and her boyfriend in Birmingham, a jury has been told. |
| Toddler Keanu Williams died in January 2011 after being found with head and chest injuries in Ward End. | Toddler Keanu Williams died in January 2011 after being found with head and chest injuries in Ward End. |
| His mother Rebecca Shuttleworth, 24, of Cottingham Road, Manchester, and Luke Southerton, 31, of Hagley Road, Birmingham, deny murdering Keanu. | His mother Rebecca Shuttleworth, 24, of Cottingham Road, Manchester, and Luke Southerton, 31, of Hagley Road, Birmingham, deny murdering Keanu. |
| The pair also deny causing or allowing the death of a child and the charge of cruelty to a child aged under 16. | The pair also deny causing or allowing the death of a child and the charge of cruelty to a child aged under 16. |
| Ms Shuttleworth denies a separate child cruelty charge against a different child. | Ms Shuttleworth denies a separate child cruelty charge against a different child. |
| Christopher Hotten QC, prosecuting, told Birmingham Crown Court that Keanu had been "beaten to death". | Christopher Hotten QC, prosecuting, told Birmingham Crown Court that Keanu had been "beaten to death". |
| Mr Hotten alleged the toddler sustained his fatal injuries after he arrived with his mother at Mr Southerton's flat in Old Moat Way, Ward End, on 7 January. | |
| 'Potent evidence' | |
| The jury was told Keanu's body was discovered after Mr Southerton had dialled 999 at 19:42 GMT on 9 January. | |
| During the call, Mr Southerton claimed the two-year-old had stopped breathing, was pale and had not been well all day. | |
| Seven minutes after the call had been made, a first responder arrived to find Keanu, who Mr Hotten alleged had already succumbed to internal bleeding. | |
| Mr Hotten told the court: "We say he was undoubtedly dead. He was not breathing, there was no pulse, the pupils of his eyes were fixed and dilated." | |
| Keanu was taken by ambulance to Heartlands Hospital where he was formally pronounced dead at 20:30 GMT. | |
| The prosecution claimed the toddler's injuries were not an "isolated event" and that he had been ill-treated for months. | |
| Mr Hotten added: "No medical help was sought for this child until he was dead. | |
| "The fact that neither (defendant) sought help until it was too late is potent evidence that both knew the injuries were incapable of sensible explanation. | |
| "It is also, we say, potent evidence that both were in it together. | |
| "We say each is criminally responsible for the injuries that caused his death." | |
| The trial is expected to last three months. | The trial is expected to last three months. |