Parents Went to Court to Feed Daughter Yorkshire
A jury is starting its fourth day of deliberations in a trial over the alleged murder of toddler Star Hobson in Keighley.
The jury began considering its verdicts at around 2.20pm on Thursday in respect of Frankie Smith and her partner Savannah Brockhill who are accused of murdering Star.
The jury is expected to continue its deliberations from around 10.30am today, Tuesday.
Star was 16 months old when she died in September 2020 after suffering serious injuries caused by a "severe blow or blows" to her abdomen.
Star's mum, Frankie Smith, 20, and her partner, Savannah Brockhill, 28, are both charged with the toddler's murder and causing or allowing the death of a child.
They both deny the charges.
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Bradford Crown Court has heard the couple were charged with the murder of Star Hobson after she died on September 22, 2020, despite the best efforts of medics called to a flat in Keighley.
Star's efforts at breathing were "minimal" and her complexion was a "waxy grey" when medics found her almost lifeless body.
Jurors were told she vomited large amounts of brown fluid in an ambulance prior to being rushed to hospital and died soon after.
Prosecutor Alistair McDonald told the jury Star had suffered a catalogue of injuries including fractures to her shin, ribs and skull as well as lacerations to a vein carrying blood between her leg and organs which leaked into her abdominal cavity.
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Videos and pictures shown to the jury saw Star with bruises to her face, eye and ear while Mr McDonald described a 15-minute window in which Google searches were made in relation to a child being in shock before Smith and Brockhill made the 999 call.
The jury has been told about the horrendous injuries suffered by Star.
A vein from her leg and organs had been lacerated or torn. That led to bleeding into her abdominal cavity. That laceration of the vein had caused 300ml of blood to leak into her abdomen.
Follow our live blog below for the latest from the trial and the verdicts as they come in
Ben Abbiss
Chilling 999 call as Star Hobson lied dying
Police have released a recording of the chilling 999 call Savannah Brockhill made after beating Star Hobson.
16-month-old Star would die of her injuries.
Ben Abbiss
Bruising on Star Hobson's face should have been final red flag
A photo of bruising on Star Hobson's face, taken two months before she died, should have been the red flag social services needed to step in.
West Yorkshire Police released the photo after Star's mum Frankie Smith was convicted of allowing her death, while her partner Savannah Brockhill was found guilty of the 16-month-old's murder.
Ben Abbiss
Statement by NSPCC
An NSPCC spokesperson said: "Star Hobson's young life was cut brutally short and it is appalling that she was harmed by the very people who should have been keeping her safe.
Star was subjected to horrific cruelty and violence over several months that no child should ever have to experience.
"This awful case comes as many of us are still upset and horrified over what happened to Arthur Labinjo-Hughes. We must do all we can to prevent cruelty and abuse to children.
As always, we urge anyone who has concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a child to contact the local authorities, the police or the NSPCC helpline."
The NSPCC helpline can be reached on 0808 8005000 or email help@nspcc.org.uk
KEY EVENT
Bradford Council could lose child safety responsibility in wake of Star Hobson's death
The Department for Education said the death of Star Hobson was "deeply disturbing" and said it would "not hesitate" to remove children's services control from Bradford Council "if necessary".
A spokesperson said: "Star's death is deeply disturbing. It is a reminder of why we have taken action to strengthen how safeguarding agencies work together locally to protect children at risk of abuse or neglect – and why we will never hesitate to take robust steps to prevent tragic cases like this happening.
"There are clear systems in place to report serious incidents, which in Star's case led to a Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review. This is due to conclude in January and will mean its learnings can feed into the national review of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes' death commissioned this week by the Secretary of State.
"In the months since Star's death we have also appointed a commissioner to assess Bradford's capability and capacity to improve. The Secretary of State met with him urgently on Monday December 13 to discuss the progress of his work and whether the council should retain control of their children's services, ahead of his full report in January.
"On seeing that we will not hesitate to remove service control if that is what's necessary to drive rapid improvements."
Ben Abbiss
"They deserve to die in prison", says Frankie Smith neighbour
Mrs Wilson added: "I can't believe what they did to be quite honest. They deserve to die and I hope they get it in prison. I hope they get bloody beaten up."
Ben Abbiss
Frankie Smith's neighbour left "sickened" by traumatic trial
Neighbour Carol Wilson, who lives across from Frankie Smith's flat in Wesley Place, Keighley, said the case had left her sickened.
"It is dreadful, it is so sad. It just made me feel sick.
"If anyone touched my grandchildren I would kill them. That little girl was beautiful - how could they do that?
"I just can't believe what people do to poor kids"
Ben Abbiss
Bradford MP calls for council leaders to resign
Conservative MP for Ilkley and Keighley, Robbie Moore, has called for Bradford Council leaders to resign over the failures of the district's child safeguarding services.
said: "This is a tragic case. What happened to Star is vile and disgusting. We heard in Court from her great grandmother how she changed from a happy child, to seeming 'depressed' in the months leading up to her horrific death.
We heard in court how there were numerous referrals made to social services, but yet nothing was done about it. The referral made by Star's own great grandmother was closed without her even being told about it.
Whilst the ultimate responsibility lies with Star's evil killer, and the serious and vile neglect from her mother, questions must now be asked as to why action was not taken.
Bradford Council bosses should hang their heads in shame. Children's services are not fit for purpose, and I have no confidence it ever will be under Bradford Council's current leadership. Therefore, I'm afraid it is my view the Leader of the Council Susan Hinchcliffe, and the Chief Executive Kersten England must now resign.
Children's services have been in a dire state for years and there now must be serious action taken to protect children, and in my view, this cannot be done under the current leadership."
Ben Abbiss
Frankie Smith's sister shares sweet videos of 'special, cheeky' Star
Star Hobson's auntie Alicia Szepler has shared sweet videos of her beloved niece and said: "I will cherish these moments forever."
Alicia, Frankie's half-sister, says Star was a very special girl who loved music, dancing and chocolate.
She shared poignant video clips of her beautiful niece with YorkshireLive.
Ben Abbiss
Police release new mugshots of Frankie Smith and Savannah Brockhill after guilty verdicts
West Yorkshire Police has released new mugshots of Frankie Smith, 20, and Savannah Brockhill, 28, after the guilty verdicts.
Ben Abbiss
Bradford Council leader admits Star "was let down" ahead of review published next month
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council, said: "Star was let down and we all want to know if anything could have been done differently.
"The Bradford Partnership, which includes all the agencies in Bradford district involved in protecting children, has already commissioned an independent Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review to answer this question.
"Now the trial is complete, this review will be concluded and published next month. We want to make sure that Star's case also informs the national inquiry that has been launched as a result of the shocking murder of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes.
"Social workers in our district support a great many children and young people and carry out work in circumstances that are often very challenging.
"It is essential therefore that lessons are learned from Star's terrible death so that we can better protect our children."
Ben Abbiss
Detective found Star's injuries "beyond belief"
Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Swift spoke to the press outside court a few moments ago.
He described the injuries inflicted on Star as "beyond belief".
Ben Abbiss
Star Hobson's heartbroken grandad begged for help
Speaking outside the court a few moments ago, David Fawcett, 61, branded the welfare checks in the days leading to Star's death "shambolic".
Read his full, tragic story here.
Ben Abbiss
Star's grandfather feared another Baby P
The grandfather of Star Hobson has been speaking outside court following the verdicts.
He told reporters he had feared "another Baby P" in the lead up to Star's murder.
Watch the video here:
Andrew Robinson
Brockhill bragged about her punching skills
Brockhill, an amateur boxer, bragged about how tough she was.
She threatened to cripple anyone who crossed her.
Andrew Robinson
Brockhill's violence and her lies
Brockhill told a pack of lies to cover up what she had done.
The jury saw through her story and convicted her of murdering Star.
Andrew Robinson
Star was punched and bruised
Here's what the court was told about Star's suffering.
The court heard that the injuries were deliberate.
Andrew Robinson
Evil stepmum killed toddler while mum sat back and did nothing
Here's the latest from Bradford Crown Court.
The jury has come to its veredicts after deliberating since last Thursday.
Andrew Robinson
Sentencing
Mrs Justice Lambert has adjourned sentencing until tomorrow.
Lawyers will be invited to give submissions from 11am. Sentences will be handed down at 2pm.
Andrew Robinson
Verdicts
Savannah Brockhill - guilty of murder
Frankie Smith - not guilty of murder and not guilty of manslaughter.
The jury has found Smith guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child.
Andrew Robinson
Verdicts shortly
Verdicts coming shortly
Andrew Robinson
Jury continues its deliberations
The jury has returned to court and has been sent out to continue its deliberations.
Andrew Robinson
Jury sent home
Mrs Justice Lambert has taken her seat in court 2.
She has released the jury for the day.
The jury will resume its deliberations tomorrow morning.
Andrew Robinson
Court breaking for lunch
The court is now breaking for lunch.
The jury is expected to resume its deliberations from 2pm.
Andrew Robinson
Jury update
The judge, Mrs Justice Lambert, has taken her seat.
She has told the jury to continue its deliberations.
The jury has left the courtroom.
Phoebe Tonks
The jury has been adjourned for the weekend.
The Jury has been sent home for the weekend.
They will resume deliberations at 10.30am on Monday December 13.
Charles Gray
Star suffered injuries 'in the course of her short life'
During the course of the trial, the jury heard that Smith and Brockhill were the only adults in the flat at the time of Star's death.
The prosecutor, Alistair MacDonald QC, said investigations had found evidence on the little girl's body which meant that "in the course of her short life, Star had suffered a number of significant injuries at different times".
Mr MacDonald said there had also been two fractures to the toddler's right leg "caused by forceful twisting", which had been refractured as they healed.
He also described a fracture to the back of Star's skull, and bruising, "much of which is considered to be non-accidental in origin".
Charles Gray
Jury asks question about Frankie Smith's mum
The jury asked about the date on which Yvonne Spendley - Frankie Smith's mother - gave a statement to police about a conversation she had with Smith when she was in the ambulance.
The judge has confirmed the statements from Yvonne Spendley came from interviews on October 6 and 8 2020.
The jury has left to continue to consider its verdict.
Charles Gray
Jury set to return with a question
The jury is set to be returning in a few minutes with a question for the judge.
Charles Gray
Jury now on lunch break
The jury have now been sent for lunch break and will return to continue their delierations at 2pm, meaning no verdict will be forthcoming in the next hour.
Charles Gray
Jury still deliberating
It has now been one hour since the jury were sent out by the judge to continue their deliberations, which started at around 2.30pm yesterday (Thursday).
Frankie Smith, 20, and her partner, Savannah Brockhill, 28, are accused of murdering Smith's daughter, Star Hobson, at her home in Keighley, West Yorkshire.
Star was taken to hospital on September 22 2020 but the injuries she had suffered were "utterly catastrophic" and "unsurvivable", Alistair MacDonald QC told Bradford Crown Court when he opened the prosecution case in October.
The jury has heard that the injuries which caused the toddler's death involved extensive damage to her abdominal cavity "caused by a severe and forceful blow or blows, either in the form of punching, stamping or kicking to the abdomen".
Source: https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/star-hobson-murder-trial-live-22405562
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