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Posted on 03/11/2017 at 16:28 | Permalink
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Posted on 03/11/2017 at 16:23 | Permalink
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A man who killed his partner’s two-year-son while in his care has been jailed for life after being found guilty of murder.
Craig Smith, 28, of Merseyside, was convicted of Teddy Tilston’s murder following a trial at Liverpool Crown Court today (2 November).The incident happened in March this year.
His trial heard that Smith, who had been looking after Teddy, claimed to an ambulance crew that he had drowned in the bath. When they arrived, paramedics found him dead but his clothes and hair were dry.
The child’s mother, Ashleigh Willett, 25, was also found guilty of child cruelty. She will be sentenced at a later date.
Smith was given a life sentence and told he must serve a minimum of 17 years before he can be considered for release.
A full post-mortem examination was later carried out on Teddy’s body and additional tests carried out by a Home Office pathologist and other experts.
The cause of death was revealed as a fatal punch or kick to the child’s stomach. There was evidence that the child had an earlier injury in the same part of his body.
While paramedics were dealing with the death of Teddy, his mother was at Arrowe Park Hospital with Teddy’s twin sister. She had suffered a head injury that day, also while in the sole care of Smith.
But doctors were not satisfied with her explanation that the blow had been caused by the child accidentally hitting a table. They also found other injuries, many that had been inflicted some time before.
Willett and Smith were subsequently charged with offences relating to the two children.
Richard Riley, for the CPS, said: “This has been a difficult and tragic case involving the use of violence against two very small children, leading to the death of one of them.
“After Teddy Tilston’s death, one of the paediatricians examined his body and found a catalogue of injuries which, in her view, were not reasonably explained by accidental causes.
“The same paediatrician also examined Teddy’s sister – she too had many injuries which were not explicable by accidental causes – not least a broken wrist which she had suffered sometime between several weeks earlier and three to six months earlier.
“Neither Craig Smith or Ashleigh Willett could give a satisfactory account for the catalogue of injuries suffered by the twins.
“The CPS said that, even if we assume that all the injuries were caused by Smith, then such is the number of injuries to both children that Ashleigh Willett must have known that the children were being ill-treated.”
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· Craig Smith (dob 13/11/88) was convicted of murder, actual bodily harm and two counts of child cruelty.
· Ashleigh Willett (dob 19/06/92) was convicted of two counts of child cruelty.
Posted on 02/11/2017 at 17:37 | Permalink
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A burglar who ran over and murdered a man as he tried to stop him stealing a car from his driveway has been jailed for life.
Mike Samwell was killed when Ryan Gibbons drove over him in his own Audi S3 outside his Manchester home during a burglary in April this year.
Mr Samwell had gone outside in the early hours to investigate the noise being made during the break-in. As Gibbons tried to drive away he crashed into a gate and reversed over Mr Samwell, and then drove over him again.
Gibbons was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court this morning and told he must a life sentence with a minimum of 27 years.
The prosecution case was that Gibbons must have been aware that Mr Samwell was under the car as he twice drove over him, causing fatal injuries.
Raymond Davies, who was part of the criminal plan to break into the Mr Samwell’s house and steal the car, was found guilty of manslaughter and jailed for eight years.
Mark Andrews from the CPS said:
“Ryan Gibbons claimed what happened was a terrible accident and that he was not aware he had driven over someone. The prosecution proved, however, that it was far from accidental.
“Through the analysis of forensic evidence, combined with the eyewitness evidence, we have shown that Gibbons must have realised Mr Samwell was under the car as he reversed and then drove forward over him again. He also must have known that doing so would cause serious injury or death.
“This is a tragic case, and our thoughts and sympathies are with all of Mike Samwell’s family and friends. In particular, I would like to pay tribute to the tremendous courage of Mrs Samwell who witnessed the terrible events but was able to give evidence and help bring those responsible to justice."
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Posted on 01/11/2017 at 10:34 | Permalink
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A woman who pushed a stranger off a station platform causing him to be fatally injured by a tram has been jailed for five years.
Charissa Brown-Wellington, 31, pushed Philip Carter towards tram tracks following a brief argument at Manchester Victoria train station on 11 June. The pair were not known to each other.
Mr Carter, 30, fell between the platform and the moving tram and died following the collision.
Brown-Wellington was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court today (31 October) after admitting manslaughter at a hearing on 22 September at the same court.
She was given a three-year extended licence period in addition to the five-year prison sentence.
Nicky Moore of the CPS said: “This is a tragic case where a man lost his life following a brief argument with a complete stranger at a busy train station.
“Charissa Brown-Wellington used unnecessary force to push Mr Carter. He had no opportunity to defend himself and was crushed between the platform and the tram.
“We originally authorised that she was charged with murder. We accepted her plea to manslaughter at an earlier hearing as we recognised that she did not intentionally push the victim under a tram, but did so after she lost her temper during the argument. She must now face up to the consequences of her reckless actions as she begins this prison sentence.
“I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr Carter.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
· Charissa Brown-Wellington (dob: 19/05/1986) pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter
· Nicky Moore is a Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North-West
Posted on 31/10/2017 at 16:09 | Permalink
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A company and its director have been sentenced today (31 October) for causing the death of a factory worker who fell into a piece of machinery at a recycling yard.
Safi Qais Khan died at Master Construction Products (Skips) Ltd (MCP) after he became entangled in a machine called a trommel, used to sort waste material.
MCPS admitted the corporate manslaughter of Mr Khan, after an investigation found there was no safe system of work for the trommel and it was in a dangerous state. Essential guards to prevent entrapment were missing, there was no emergency stop button on the machine and it was surrounded by uneven and waste strewn ground.
The company also admitted a health and safety breach of a duty owed to its employee in failing to ensure measures were in place to minimise risks of entrapment, crushing or falls whilst working at the trommel.
Jagbir Singh, director of MCPS, pleaded guilty to a health a safety offence. He admitted that he was aware of the way in which the company operated the trommel.
The company was given a fine of £255,000 for corporate manslaughter. Singh was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment suspended for two years and 300 hours of community service at Birmingham Crown Court. He was also disqualified as a company director for eight years and ordered to pay £11,500 in prosecution costs.
Michael Gregory, from the CPS, said: “MCPS Ltd let the trommel and the area around it fall into a dilapidated and dangerous state. Little thought was given by the company to the safety of its employees when working at the machine. This failure caused the death of Mr Khan.
“Singh admitted the offence after the CPS successfully showed how senior leaders’ management of the machinery played a substantial part in Mr Khan’s death. Our thoughts are with Mr Khan’s family.”
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Notes to editors:
Posted on 31/10/2017 at 11:31 | Permalink
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Posted on 30/10/2017 at 14:46 | Permalink
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