Wed, 06 Dec 2017
The step father of five-year-old Charlie Dunn, who drowned in a pool at a water park, pleaded guilty to manslaughter by gross negligence.
Paul Smith, 36, had denied any wrongdoing in relation to the death of Charlie, but changed his plea part way through the trial at Birmingham Crown Court.
Jurors had heard that Charlie, from Tamworth, was found in a 1.4 metre deep lagoon at Bosworth Water Park in Leicestershire in July last year.
Charlie’s mother, Lynsey Dunn, 28, has also admitted a charge of neglect in connection with her son after an incident between July 2015 and July 2016 in which she failed to supervise him when he was found in a pedal car next to a busy road.
Dunn also pleaded guilty to a second charge of neglect in relation to another youngster, who cannot be named, after an incident in the summer of 2015.
Both defendants will be sentenced on December 20.
John Butterfield QC, of No5 Barristers’ Chambers, defended the high-profile case, while No5’s Elizabeth Power defended the co-accused.
Follow the link to read a report on the BBC’s website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-42236617
