Mum Found Guilty At Birmingham Crown Court Of Murdering Toddler

8 April 2016, 15:25 | Updated: 8 April 2016, 16:20

A woman's been found guilty of murdering her 21-month-old daughter in Staffordshire, who prosecutors said had been stamped to death.

Ayeeshia Jane Smith died at the family home in Burton on Trent in 2014 from a laceration to her heart.

Her mum Kathryn Smith, who's 23, has also been found guilty of cruelty.

Her 22-year-old former partner Matthew Rigby from Nottingham was earlier found guilty of causing or allowing her death, but cleared of murder.

Little Ayeeshia, known as AJ, suffered a fatal collapse at home just over three weeks after Derbyshire County Council social services had discussed taking the youngster into care over fears Smith was a victim of domestic abuse.

The toddler died from a fatal heart laceration most likely caused by a foot stamp and the sort of injury doctors only usually see in crash victims.

Jurors were told that Smith, who had been adopted, had a history of troubled relationships with men.

Her child was taken into care by Derbyshire County Council social services for four months in mid-2013, when she was previously living in Swadlincote and dating another man.

After that break-up Smith began a relationship with former electrician Rigby, who had spent his teenage years in care, but the jury heard evidence of their own turbulent romance.

In one incident Smith called 999 after a heated row between the couple at their flat in Britannia Drive, Burton, less than a month before the child's death, claiming her partner had threatened to torch the home.

In his evidence, Rigby - who the jury was told had two previous convictions for assault - admitted telling her in anger he would "blow the house up'', but denied he was prone to losing his temper.

Both also smoked cannabis at least three times a week, and a Tommee Tippee plastic mug found at the flat was used to store the drug.

Ayeeshia's case was discussed by care workers after the April 999 call, but they decided to provide domestic abuse support to Smith and monitor the situation.

The child remained with her mother but at a key child safeguarding meeting the day before the youngster's death, it was agreed a domestic abuse professional would visit Smith.

After the fatal collapse, a post mortem examination revealed a historic bleed on the brain linked to a previous collapse at home in February 2014.

Further examination revealed more injuries including a large bruise to the girl's back and buttocks, bruising to her neck, head, left eyelid and left leg.

During testimony, Rigby pointed the finger of blame at Smith, telling jurors it ``must have been'' her, while she told jurors he had been the last person with Ayeeshia before the child collapsed.