Five-week-old baby died after neck 'snapped' during days of abuse

17 January 2024 , 16:47

1270     0

Ollie Davis passed away at just five weeks old (Image: Getty Images)

Two parents are on trial for murder, after their baby boy sadly passed away due to the delayed effects of a broken neck following a harrowing period of abuse, in which he sustained 23 broken ribs.

On October 21, 2017, after being discovered lifeless in his bedroom at just five weeks old, Ollie Davis was tragically pronounced dead. The jury at Leicester Crown Court heard that he sustained fractures to his skull, collar bone, both arms and the joints of all his limbs. Prosecutors have claimed that Ollie's life-ending injuries were inflicted while he was in the care of his parents, Kayleigh Driver and Michael Davis, who have subsequently denied accusations of murder.

On January 17, Crown counsel Jonas Hankin KC, opened the Crown's case, told jurors: "The case concerns the death of five-week-old Ollie Davis on the morning of the 21st of October 2017. He was found lifeless in his crib in the bedroom that he shared with his parents at Upper Temple Walk here in Leicester."

He continued: "An ambulance was called, and he was taken to the Leicester Royal Infirmary. However, medical staff were unable to revive him, and at 7.30 AM, it was agreed that attempts to resuscitate him should be discontinued. He was then pronounced dead. He died from the delayed effects of a broken neck."

Hankin alleged, that several of the injuries suffered by the child had occurred days before he received medical attention. He said: "Although the pathology doesn't allow us to identify the precise mechanism with certainty... the (medical) experts engaged in this case on all sides are agreed that the neck injury led to compression of the spinal cord, which in turn stopped Ollie breathing. What the pathology investigation can tell us is the neck was snapped between four and eight days prior to his death."

Russian model killed after calling Putin a 'psychopath' was strangled by her ex

Kayleigh Driver and Michael Davis are accused of murdering their baby (Leicester Mercury / Chris Gordon)

Mr Hankin assured the jury that upon hearing all the evidence, they would come to the conclusion that one of Ollie's parents was the 'perpetrator, telling the court: "This will be the key issue for you to determine at trial." The Crown's barrister added: "A broken neck was not the only injury Ollie sustained. Medical investigation revealed Ollie had sustained a total of 37 fractures. They included fractures to the skull, his collar bone, both arms between the shoulder and the elbow, 23 rib fractures and fractures to the joints of all four limbs. He also suffered brain injuries, bleeding over the surface of the brain."

Medical experts believe that the injuries were sustained over various overlapping time-frames in the ten days prior to Ollie's death. Hankin explained: "Ollie could not have caused the injuries to himself - he was a five-week-old pre-mobile baby."

His mother, Driver, 29, who has multiple sclerosis, appeared in front of the jury on a mobility scooter, joined by her son's father, Davis, 31. Both failed to put forward an account of an accident or accidents that would explain how their son suffered such severe injuries, the court heard. The pair deny causing grievous bodily harm with intent, causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical harm, causing or allowing the death of a child, and murder.

Ollie Davis sustained horrific injuries (Leicester Mercury / Chris Gordon)

Hankin confirmed that the Crown would argue that Ollie suffered horrific physical abuse: "Most likely to have taken place during the last ten days of his life. The nature of these injuries is such that multiple mechanisms were required to cause them. Severe compressive force is required to cause the rib fractures. These injuries and the events that caused them could not have taken place in a single episode of violence."

Taking note of an injury to Ollie's left rib, Hankin made the allegation that Davis must have been responsible, as it was he who was looking after the child at the time. Hankin said: "It might be important because it is common ground between the defendants that Mr Davis was in sole charge of Ollie overnight on the 20th and the 21st of October. If you are satisfied that that was an inflicted injury, then he must have been the perpetrator because he was the sole adult carer responsible for the baby at around the time the injury must have been caused. You may think also that it's most likely that he is the perpetrator of all of Ollie's other abusive injuries."

Both defendants continue to deny any wrongdoing, claiming that they have done nothing that would cause their son any physical harm at all. However, Hankin will look to prove otherwise as the trial continues.

James Sweetnam