A SADISTIC stepdad who murdered a two-year-old girl after his Universal Credit payments were stopped has been jailed.
Maya Chappell was horrifically attacked by Michael Daymond, 27, while he looked after her at home alone.
Maya Chappell was brutally murdered by her mum’s partner
Her mum had turned a blind eye to the abuse suffered
Daymond inflicted a number of injuries on the toddler
The toddler suffered a string of injuries that were likened to a car accident or a fall from a tall building.
Daymond has now been jailed for life with a minimum of 20 years for murder.
Maya’s mum Dana Carr, 24, was jailed for nine years after being convicted of allowing the death of a child and child cruelty.
Teesside Crown Court heard how Carr turned a blind eye to her evil partner’s abuse of little Maya.
Carr also 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 – causing the mum to beg a relative to lie on her behalf about the bruises.
When the dad messaged again the following day, he dismissed the claims and said: “Had Maya had been seen in this condition at a nursery there would be an immediate referral to social services.”
As a result, jurors heard Carr removed their daughter from nursery and told her former partner Daymond was no longer around.
In the hours leading up to the attack on September 28 last year, he had made repeated calls and log-in attempts to sort out his Universal Credit status.
By around 2pm, Daymond, who was looking after Maya alone, discovered he had been cut off.
Ninety minutes later, he made a 999 call saying Maya was “gasping for breath” and although her eyes were open, it was “like she wasn’t there”.
As Carr raced back home, she texted Daymond, saying “I’m coming”, “please don’t leave me” and “are you ok”.
Maya 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.
Prosecutor Ben Nolan KC said: “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 so infatuated with Daymond she “turned a “blind eye” to the abuse her daughter was suffering.
Carr also 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 – causing the mum to beg a relative to lie on her behalf about the bruises.
When the dad messaged again the following day, he dismissed the claims and said: “Had Maya had been seen in this condition at a nursery there would be an immediate referral to social services.”
As a result, jurors heard Carr removed their daughter from nursery and told her former partner Daymond was no longer around.
In the hours leading up to the attack on September 28 last year, he had made repeated calls and log-in attempts to sort out his Universal Credit status.
By around 2pm, Daymond, who was looking after Maya alone, discovered he had been cut off.
Ninety minutes later, he made a 999 call saying Maya was “gasping for breath” and although her eyes were open, it was “like she wasn’t there”.
As Carr raced back home, she texted Daymond, saying “I’m coming”, “please don’t leave me” and “are you ok”.
Maya 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.
Prosecutor Ben Nolan KC said: “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 so infatuated with Daymond she “turned a “blind eye” to the abuse her daughter was suffering.
Detective Superintendent Chris Barker, of Durham Constabulary, who led the investigation, said: “Maya was killed, we don’t why or what caused Daymond to carry out such an appalling crime – but he did.
“Sadly, nothing can change his unforgiveable actions but at least he, together with Carr, is now facing the consequences of Maya’s tragic death.
“Maya was a defenceless two-year-old girl who should have been able to trust Daymond – instead she lived in fear, and she couldn’t even rely on her own mother to help her.
“My heart goes out to those who truly cared about Maya. Today’s sentencing won’t bring her back but hopefully it will provide some closure and allow them to grieve.”
Maya had bruising before she was killed
Her injuries were likened to a car crash or fall from a high building Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
