‘Baby died strapped to beanbag at a nursery’
Nurse on trial for ‘smothering’ nine-month-old Genevieve
A BABY girl suffocated to death when a nursery’s deputy manager strapped her on to a bean bag face down, a court has heard.
Genevieve Meehan, known as Gigi, was also wrapped “from head to foot” in a blanket so tightly that she could barely move, it was alleged.
Kate Roughley, 37, allegedly ignored the fact she was struggling to breathe when she left her in the same position for an hour and 37 minutes.
Eventually the nursery nurse realised something was wrong and cried out, “S***, she’s not breathing” but hospital medics could not save Gigi.
Roughley, an early years practitioner with 17 years’ experience, denies manslaughter and child cruelty at Manchester Crown Court.
The jury were told they would look at “distressing” CCTV footage of Gigi’s “increasingly exhausted thrashing in order to survive”.
The jury heard Roughley had been “consistently rough” with ninemonth-old Gigi at Tiny Toes nursery in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, in May 2022. Prosecutor Peter Wright KC said CCTV recorded her showing “a marked disinclination” to care for her in the days leading up to her death.
“She seemed frustrated at Genevieve’s sleeping and was heard to say ‘vile’ and ‘she’s driving me bananas’,” he said
Roughley was shown throwing soft toys at the baby, one of which hit her in the face, he said.
Disturbing
“Her hostility to Genevieve was as illogical as it was disturbing,” he added. “She treated her in a rough manner as if she was punishing her.”
Mr Wright said the way Gigi was put down to sleep “was an obvious recipe for disaster”. The cause of death was a combination of asphyxia and “pathophysiological stress”.
Mr Wright added: “The risk to a baby as young as Genevieve in wrapping them tightly and not putting them on their back was obvious.
“All the more so when you discover she had placed Genevieve on to a bean bag with the obvious and serious risk of asphyxia.
“As if this wasn’t bad enough, Genevieve was strapped front down on to the bag by means of a harness.
“Finally, a blanket was placed over her that covered her practically from head to foot.”
Sarah Elliott KC, defending, said: “Genevieve’s death was a terrible and unavoidable accident but not caused by any unlawful act of Kate Roughley. She was devastated by the events and is heartbroken at what happened.
“She looked after her and a large number of other children, often single-handedly, in a responsible, nononsense but caring way. She did not harbour any ill will.” Trial continues.