clint van damme
Well-Known Member
No charges over death of baby with cocaine and alcohol in blood
Baby had cocaine and alcohol in blood, and lived under cannabis farm - but no-one will be charged over his death
The Crown Prosecution Service says there was "insufficient evidence" to prosecute parents
Nobody will be prosecuted over the death of a baby living in squalid conditions who died with traces of cocaine and alcohol in his blood, it has emerged.
The five-month-old was found unconscious after he had slept in a bed with his mother and her brother following a party at the family home .
The mother said she had drank six or seven cans of lager before taking the baby to the bedroom at about 4.30am.
She then fell asleep with her arm over the baby’s stomach before being woken up at about 9am to the sound of her brother screaming the baby’s name.
The baby arrived at hospital with dirt in his ears, armpits, fingernails and navel. He also had severe cradle cap and a full wet nappy.
After failed attempts to resuscitate him, the baby boy was pronounced dead at University Hospital, in Walsgrave, in May 2014.
Baby living under cannabis farm died with cocaine and alcohol in his system
Baby E died in hospital after growing up in squalid conditions at a house in Coventry
Cause of death
A serious case review report outlined the circumstances leading up to the death of the Coventry youngster referred to as Child E.
His cause of death was initially recorded as unascertained, but an inquest in April 2015 recorded a verdict of accidental death with asphyxia as the cause.
Traces of cocaine and cocaethylene, formed when alcohol mixes with cocaine, were found in Child E’s blood, bowel and urine. But the report added there was no suggestion drugs or booze had been given to the baby deliberately.
It read: “The pathologist stated that the death should not be considered as the result of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) as factors such as the unsafe sleeping environment, toxicological status or a combination may have played a role in Child E’s death.”
'I wish I could take these children home with me and raise them properly' - reaction to baby living under cannabis farm dying with cocaine and alcohol in his system
Cannabis
Cannabis farm
Police flagged up the shocking living conditions in the report which read: “The kitchen was dirty with grease, and the bedroom where Child E slept was damp, dirty and cluttered with food.
“There were also used nappies and unwashed clothes in piles. The chair that Child E used was described as ‘filthy’. The entire address was reported to have a strong aroma of urine.”
At the time of the death cannabis was being grown in the loft above one of the children’s bedroom - accessible via an open hatch. There was also a large knife stuck into the door frame of the living room.
What had the agencies done?
The report raised concerns that a proper assessment of the child’s living conditions had not been undertaken prior to the youngster’s death.
This was put down to the agencies involved using an incorrect address and the mother being unavailable.
The family GP had also failed to carry out developmental checks on the baby and school officials did not visit the parents despite the baby’s older sister missing more than 50 per cent of schooling in the previous academic year.
Despite the circumstances of the baby’s death, and the parents’ history of alcohol and drug abuse the youngster’s three siblings were later placed back into the care of.
Revealed: Computer error meant police evidence of dead baby's neglect never reached Crown Prosecution Service
The report’s conclusions
However, the report concluded that nothing significant was missed by agencies that could have prevented the death of the baby.
In its conclusions, it read: “Child E’s death was an accidental occurrence that has had a profound effect on his parents, and which they regret deeply. Mother was adamant and passionate about her commitment to her children and their well-being.
“They have acknowledged many factors in their previous behaviour that were not ideal, and have made strong efforts to change their lifestyle, to reject alcohol and drug abuse, and have attempted to build a new family life after Child E’s death.”
Technical glitch
In 2016, the Telegraph exposed that important evidence about the case was never received by the Crown Prosecution Service due to a computer error .
The shocking revelation came after we questioned West Midlands Police and the CPS about why the parents had faced no charges following the death.
Police admitted a file relating to neglect had never been received by the CPS and said the case would now be reviewed.
That review has now been completed and a decision has been taken not to prosecute anyone in relation to Child E’s death.
“Insufficient evidence”
The Crown Prosecution Service issued a statement this week after the Telegraph asked for an update in relation to the case.
It read: “After the publication of the Serious Case Review (SCR), West Midlands Police forwarded a file of evidence to the CPS on April 21, 2016 requesting, for the first time, a charging decision in respect of any offences in connection with the death of Child E.
“Following a very thorough review of the evidence and the gathering of further expert medical evidence, the CPS decided in January 2017 that there was insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any such offences.
“We informed the chair of the Coventry Safeguarding Children Board at the time of the decision requesting that the SCR report be amended accordingly.”
Baby had cocaine and alcohol in blood, and lived under cannabis farm - but no-one will be charged over his death
The Crown Prosecution Service says there was "insufficient evidence" to prosecute parents
Nobody will be prosecuted over the death of a baby living in squalid conditions who died with traces of cocaine and alcohol in his blood, it has emerged.
The five-month-old was found unconscious after he had slept in a bed with his mother and her brother following a party at the family home .
The mother said she had drank six or seven cans of lager before taking the baby to the bedroom at about 4.30am.
She then fell asleep with her arm over the baby’s stomach before being woken up at about 9am to the sound of her brother screaming the baby’s name.
The baby arrived at hospital with dirt in his ears, armpits, fingernails and navel. He also had severe cradle cap and a full wet nappy.
After failed attempts to resuscitate him, the baby boy was pronounced dead at University Hospital, in Walsgrave, in May 2014.
Baby living under cannabis farm died with cocaine and alcohol in his system
Baby E died in hospital after growing up in squalid conditions at a house in Coventry
Cause of death
A serious case review report outlined the circumstances leading up to the death of the Coventry youngster referred to as Child E.
His cause of death was initially recorded as unascertained, but an inquest in April 2015 recorded a verdict of accidental death with asphyxia as the cause.
Traces of cocaine and cocaethylene, formed when alcohol mixes with cocaine, were found in Child E’s blood, bowel and urine. But the report added there was no suggestion drugs or booze had been given to the baby deliberately.
It read: “The pathologist stated that the death should not be considered as the result of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) as factors such as the unsafe sleeping environment, toxicological status or a combination may have played a role in Child E’s death.”
'I wish I could take these children home with me and raise them properly' - reaction to baby living under cannabis farm dying with cocaine and alcohol in his system
Cannabis
Cannabis farm
Police flagged up the shocking living conditions in the report which read: “The kitchen was dirty with grease, and the bedroom where Child E slept was damp, dirty and cluttered with food.
“There were also used nappies and unwashed clothes in piles. The chair that Child E used was described as ‘filthy’. The entire address was reported to have a strong aroma of urine.”
At the time of the death cannabis was being grown in the loft above one of the children’s bedroom - accessible via an open hatch. There was also a large knife stuck into the door frame of the living room.
What had the agencies done?
The report raised concerns that a proper assessment of the child’s living conditions had not been undertaken prior to the youngster’s death.
This was put down to the agencies involved using an incorrect address and the mother being unavailable.
The family GP had also failed to carry out developmental checks on the baby and school officials did not visit the parents despite the baby’s older sister missing more than 50 per cent of schooling in the previous academic year.
Despite the circumstances of the baby’s death, and the parents’ history of alcohol and drug abuse the youngster’s three siblings were later placed back into the care of.
Revealed: Computer error meant police evidence of dead baby's neglect never reached Crown Prosecution Service
The report’s conclusions
However, the report concluded that nothing significant was missed by agencies that could have prevented the death of the baby.
In its conclusions, it read: “Child E’s death was an accidental occurrence that has had a profound effect on his parents, and which they regret deeply. Mother was adamant and passionate about her commitment to her children and their well-being.
“They have acknowledged many factors in their previous behaviour that were not ideal, and have made strong efforts to change their lifestyle, to reject alcohol and drug abuse, and have attempted to build a new family life after Child E’s death.”
Technical glitch
In 2016, the Telegraph exposed that important evidence about the case was never received by the Crown Prosecution Service due to a computer error .
The shocking revelation came after we questioned West Midlands Police and the CPS about why the parents had faced no charges following the death.
Police admitted a file relating to neglect had never been received by the CPS and said the case would now be reviewed.
That review has now been completed and a decision has been taken not to prosecute anyone in relation to Child E’s death.
“Insufficient evidence”
The Crown Prosecution Service issued a statement this week after the Telegraph asked for an update in relation to the case.
It read: “After the publication of the Serious Case Review (SCR), West Midlands Police forwarded a file of evidence to the CPS on April 21, 2016 requesting, for the first time, a charging decision in respect of any offences in connection with the death of Child E.
“Following a very thorough review of the evidence and the gathering of further expert medical evidence, the CPS decided in January 2017 that there was insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any such offences.
“We informed the chair of the Coventry Safeguarding Children Board at the time of the decision requesting that the SCR report be amended accordingly.”
