A MUM lied about her daughter’s bruises before she died from a “constellation of injuries” at her boyfriend’s hands, a court heard.
Two-year-old Maya Chappell was allegedly murdered by Michael Daymond, 27, while he looked after her at home alone..
FacebookMaya Chappell was allegedly murdered by her mum’s partner[/caption]
She had suffered a string of horrific injuries that suggested she was subjected to a “blunt force assault”, jurors heard.
Teesside Crown Court heard Maya’s mum Dana Carr, 24, had lied about bruises she had just weeks before her death.
The toddler’s dad James Chappell had repeatedly raised concerns about five marks she had on her face, it is said.
Chappell allegedly asked a relative to lie on her behalf about the bruises.
When the dad messaged again the following day, he dismissed the claims and said: “Maya had been seen in this condition at a nursery there would be an immediate referral to social services.”
As a result, jurors heard Chappell removed their daughter from nursery and told her former partner Daymond was no longer around.
Prosecutor Ben Nolan KC said: “It was a lie that went to the heart of James Chappell’s perfectly proper fears for Maya’s safety at Mr Daymond’s hands.”
The court heard on September 28 last year, Daymond made a 999 call saying Maya was “gasping for breath” and although her eyes were open, it was “like she wasn’t there”.
She was rushed to hospital but died two days later after never regaining consciousness.
A post mortem showed her death was not a “one-off” event but the culmination of a series of assaults, Mr Nolan said.
He added: “The pathologist who carried out a post-mortem examination concluded Maya had been subjected to a blunt force assault likely comprising severe shaking perhaps combined with blunt force impacts to the head and forceful blows to the abdomen.
“Additionally, there had been gripping and or pulling of the jaw and left ear.
“Maya also had extensive head, neck and torso bruising.
“A constellation of injuries that, in the opinion of the pathologist, had been deliberately inflicted and resulted in severe brain damage from which she could not recover.”
The court heard the couple began dating in 2022 and moved in together a month before Maya’s death.
Carr was allegedly so infatuated with Daymond she “turned a “blind eye” to the abuse her daughter was suffering.
She denies child cruelty and allowing the death of a child.
Daymond, who claims Maya was injured falling out of bed, has pleaded not guilty to murder and a charge of child cruelty.
The trial continues.
FacebookDaymond has denied murder[/caption]
GoFundMeLittle Maya had suffered a ‘constellation of injuries’[/caption]
Her mum allegedly turned a blind eye to her sufferingNNP
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