Baby was taken to hospital ‘repeatedly’ before her murder
INQUEST HEARS ABUSE WAS THE ‘ONLY EXPLANATION’ FOR HER INJURIES
A BABY was repeatedly taken to hospital with unexplained bruises and vomiting problems in the months before she was murdered, an inquest has heard.
Physical abuse was the ‘only realistic’ explanation for wounds suffered by Ella-Rose Close, a pathologist explained.
The 22-month-old girl was subjected to a fatal attack by Michael Wild - who is serving a life sentence for her murder.
He was the boyfriend of Ella-Rose’s godmother Sharlene Hughes, who had been left to care for the child but instead left her with Wild.
Hughes was convicted of causing or allowing the death of a child; and two charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice, but has since been released from prison.
An inquest has now heard how EllaRose, from Wythenshawe, was hospitalised a number of times with bruising and vomiting in the months before her killing, on January 21, 2018.
On one occasion she needed surgery for a severe abdominal injury.
Hospital bosses have accepted that there was a ‘lack of consideration of non-accidental injury,’ and more specifically an ‘underestimation of the risk that this posed.’
They also accept they were ‘premature’ in ruling out non-accidental injury during a safeguarding meeting and that there was a lack of information sharing with children’s social services.
However Manchester Foundation Trust - which runs the hospitals where the baby was treated - is ‘unable to say’ if any of the failings contributed to Ella-Rose’s death.
At Manchester Coroners’ Court, assistant coroner Nick Stanage explained that the inquest into EllaRose’s death will explore whether or not medics ‘ought to have known’ that someone posed a serious risk to her before she was murdered.
It will also look at whether or not medical staff should have understood that there was no other explanation for injuries Ella-Rose received before her death, other than physical abuse. Medics from the Trust are due to give evidence on Monday.
Yesterday, the coroner heard how
Ella-Rose had been taken to hospital on several occasions in the months prior to her death for a range of injuries and conditions.
She repeatedly presented with bruising, vomiting and bloody stools, the inquest heard.
Home Office forensic pathologist Naomi Carter gave evidence saying: “If there are reported episodes where a child keeps coming back with reported bruising over and over again, then I think it’s pertinent to consider is this a non-accidental injury all along, when you put it into the pattern of what’s been going on.”
Mr Stanage asked if the only reasonable explanation for some Ellia-Rose’s injuries was physical abuse. Dr Carter said: “I find it difficult to think of another explanation for it.” Both Wild and Hughes have been invited to attend the inquest as ‘interested persons.’ Neither is expected to turn up, Mr Stannage said.
The inquest is listed for four days, resuming on Monday.
I think it’s pertinent to consider is this a nonaccidental injury all along...
Home Office forensic pathologist Naomi Carter