Thu, 06 Sep 2018
A mother, prosecuted by David Mason QC from No5 Barristers’ Chambers, for allowing the 2016 manslaughter of her six-month-old son Kayden has been jailed.
Laura Davies, 25, of Walnut Close, Bilston, was convicted last month of allowing Kayden’s manslaughter at the hands of his father Ricky Walker, 27, of the same address. She was jailed for 18 months at Birmingham Crown Court.
Kayden went into cardiac arrest at his home and was pronounced dead approximately one hour after Walker had dialled 999 on June 12, 2016.
He died of brain injuries consistent with having been shaken. Walker told jurors he believed a folded-up hoodie he used to “prop-feed” the infant may have suffocated him.
Davies, who has a history of mental health issues, was told she had failed to heed "warning signals" before the death of six-month-old Kayden Walker - including a comment from Walker, relating to suffocation and previous incidents of violence.
Explaining why Davies, who was not present when Kayden collapsed, had been charged with allowing death, Mr Mason told the court: "Our case is that there had been an earlier incident of trauma to Kayden and both his mother and father would have been aware of it.
"We can and do suggest that she should have been aware that there was a risk to Kayden and failed to take reasonable steps to protect him."
Walker, 27, of Walnut Close, Bilston, was convicted of manslaughter but cleared of murder and child cruelty after a month-long trial at Birmingham Crown Court. He was jailed for six years last month.
To read more about this case visit: www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/jail-mum-laura-davies-who-15115596
David Mason QC is a member of the Criminal Law Group at No5 Barristers’ Chambers. To view his profile please visit: www.no5.com/barristers/barrister-cvs/david-mason-qc--crime-cv/
