Sobbing mum asks man accused of her baby’s murder: Did you hurt her?
A MUM sobbed over video-link in court as she asked a man charged with murdering her 12-month-old daughter ‘did you hurt her or not?.’
Chelsea Crilly is charged with causing or allowing the death or serious harm of her daughter Orianna Crilly-Cifrova.
Jamie Chadwick – who is not the baby’s father – is charged with a single count of murder.
Orianna died despite the best efforts of specialist doctors after she was taken to hospital from a flat in Radcliffe, Bury.
In a tribute paid to their ‘little princess,’ the baby girl’s family said she had the ‘cheekiest smile’ and was the ‘centre of her daddy’s world.’
Both defendants appeared at Manchester Crown Court over a videolink – Ms Crilly from HMP Styal and Mr Chadwick from HMP Forest Bank.
Before the preliminary hearing began, after she became aware that Mr Chadwick could hear her over the link, Ms Crilly shouted: “Why is Orianna not here with me?”
She then sobbed as she asked him ‘did you hurt her or not?’
Mr Chadwick looked visibly distressed and cried with his head in his hands. Both defendants spoke to confirm their names as Judge David Stockdale QC entered the room to start the hearing.
Andrew Mackintosh, prosecuting, said there was no application for either of them to be arraigned. He also said that the case was ‘likely’ to be heard in front of a High Court judge.
As trial dates were set between the barristers, Mr Chadwick repeatedly shouted: “Chels, are you all right?”
He said ‘I love you’ over the videolink as Ms Crilly, represented by Amanda Johnson, sobbed with her face out of the view. The court clerk had to ask them to remain silent during the proceedings.
The prosecutor told the judge how a number of experts would be instructed to write reports before the trial – including a bone expert, a radiologist, an expert who could comment on eye injuries and an expert who could comment on injuries to the skull.
Paul Becker, representing Mr Chadwick, told the court how the case would ‘obviously be very serious and complicated.’
No pleas were entered during the hearing.
Once a timetable was set, Judge Stockdale addressed both defendants over the video-link and said: “This has been a preliminary hearing only.
“I have set a trial date for March 23 next year and have set a timetable for the exchange of documents between prosecution and defence.
“There will be further case management hearing on February 7 and there are no further directions today.”
Ms Crilly, 19, of Warwick Road, Atherton, Wigan, was remanded in custody.
Mr Chadwick, 21, of Cross Lane, Radcliffe, was also remanded.
They will next appear at Manchester Crown Court on February 7 next year.
Police said officers and emergency services were called to a property on Cross Lane, Radcliffe, shortly after 2.25pm on Wednesday, October 16.