The grandmother of a toddler who was killed by her daughter and the daughter's new boyfriend expressed concerns about the boyfriend bathing the child alone, Teesside Crown Court was told.
Alexandra Walker, 25, and Harrison Simpson, 22, are accused of the murder and sexual assault of two-year-old Isabelle Welsh. The toddler collapsed at her home in Thornaby, Teesside, on September 13 last year, having suffered a "massive head injury," the court heard. In the weeks preceding her death, Isabelle allegedly sustained 21 separate broken bones and was sexually assaulted.
Claire Walker, Isabelle's grandmother and Alexandra Walker's mother, testified that she believed her daughter idolized Isabelle but grew concerned about her granddaughter's ill appearance in the days before her death. The court heard that both mother and grandmother had reservations about Simpson bathing Isabelle when no one else was present. When questioned by Simpson's defense counsel, Claire Walker stated that her daughter did not have a choice in the matter, as Simpson bathed Isabelle when Alexandra was in the hospital. Claire Walker recounted telling her daughter, "don't let him bath her again. Only a mother should do that."
During her police interview, which was presented to the court, Claire Walker stated that approximately 48 hours before Isabelle collapsed, she visited her granddaughter and was alarmed by how unwell the child looked. Isabelle was described as "white, had tummy ache, her knee was hurting" and "just wanted to be cuddled." The toddler also had a "bump on her head." When Claire Walker changed Isabelle's nappy, she observed bruises on the child's back and marks that resembled "fingerprint" impressions near her hip.
When Claire Walker questioned her daughter about the marks, Alexandra Walker attributed them to Isabelle accidentally banging her head and claimed the child had picked up a virus from an earlier hospital stay for a fractured leg. Claire Walker testified that she had never met Simpson, and her daughter explained that he had anxiety and did not wish to meet her. The court also heard that Alexandra Walker had previously been a victim of domestic abuse, which prompted her to install CCTV cameras in her home.
Jurors were previously informed that Walker and Simpson allegedly consumed excessive amounts of drink and drugs, sometimes partying into the early morning hours. However, Walker reportedly began to have concerns about Simpson, and phone records revealed she had searched Google to determine if he was on the sex offenders' register. Messages between Walker and her mother suggested that Simpson had "taken the huff… because of the paedo comment," according to prosecutor Richard Wright KC.
Walker and Simpson deny the murder of Isabelle, causing or allowing the death of a child, assault by penetration of a child under 13, and child cruelty. The trial is expected to last six weeks.