A court has heard that a mother of a two-year-old girl, who was seriously ill from sexual and physical abuse, hesitated to call emergency services when her daughter was dying. Isabelle Welsh had sustained 21 broken bones before passing away in September after collapsing at her residence in Thornaby, Teesside.
Alexandra Walker, 25, and her boyfriend Harrison Simpson, 22, are facing charges of murder, sexual assault, neglecting a child’s death, and cruelty towards a child. Prosecutors revealed that on the day before Isabelle’s fatal head injury, the couple had been drinking and using cannabis late into the night.
While Walker remained in bed the next morning, Simpson was alone with the toddler. He eventually left the house around 3 pm, prompting Walker to search online about her daughter’s bleeding symptoms. Despite the severity of Isabelle’s condition, Walker did not take immediate action.
An hour after Simpson’s departure, Walker contacted her stepfather, who advised her to call emergency services. Paramedics arrived promptly, but Isabelle succumbed to her injuries the following day. Investigations unveiled previous instances where Walker had sought medical help for Isabelle’s injuries, which were explained as accidents.
During police interrogations, Walker initially denied knowledge of the abuse but later admitted to suspecting Simpson’s involvement. Simpson remained silent during questioning. Prosecution argues that both defendants were complicit in the ongoing abuse towards Isabelle, evident from the delayed response to her deteriorating health.
The trial is ongoing to determine the accountability of Walker and Simpson in the tragic events leading to Isabelle’s death.
