- Notice
Lucymyers
VIP Member
Billy big bollocks now but where was he when isabelle needed him
Jenmojito
Member
Just saw a piece on Sky News about HS. He was wanted by police in the 18months before he murdered poor Isabelle. Cleveland Police had an arrest warrant out for him as he had been charged with breaching a NMO and had failed to show up at court. The police claim they tried multiple times to locate him but failed to do so. Yet another failure and more enquiries no doubt.
bigmac22
Well-known member
Her mum also testified that she was a victim of domestic abuse, which also included Isabelle’s father.
Updates from today so far will hide under a spoiler as they’re long, will need to be read from bottom up:
Updates from today so far will hide under a spoiler as they’re long, will need to be read from bottom up:
3:13pm25/06/26
CPR attempt
Mr Ackroyd says Alexandra was shaking and crying when he got to her home.
He says paramedics arrived and took over CPR and managed to get Isabelle's heart going again and they took her to the University Hospital of North Tees.
He tells officers that he sees Alexandra around three times a week and would bring Isabelle with her.
Officers then quizzed him about Isabelle being poorly in the period leading up to her death.
He says they thought she has a virus but seemed to have perked up a bit.
The officers asked him if he had noticed any bruising and says he knew she had a hairline fracture of her leg and believed it had been caused by her putting it through the bars of her cot.
2:55pm25/06/26
Stepfather's evidence
Alexandra Walker's stepfather, Dan Ackroyd, was interviewed by police following the death of Isabelle.
He tells the police that she rang him in a total panic and he told her to ring 999 before heading to her home in Thornaby.
"I saw Isabelle on the floor in the hallway," he says. "Alex was holding her hand, I have dropped to me knees straightaway to check her.
"I tried looking for a pulse, to see if she was breathing and started CPR."
The officer asks Mr Ackroyd about Isabelle and how she looked when he got to the house.
He says: "She was very, very pale."
Mr Ackroyd struggles to contain his emotions as police continue to ask him about what happened when he arrived at the house.
2:26pm25/06/26
Isabelle's death
Mr McKone is now asking Miss Walker about the days leading up to her death.
He asks whether she thought she was starting to get better, she says: "The last time I saw her, I thought she was improving.
The completes the evidence of Alexandra Walker's mother.
2:24pm25/06/26
Cross examination
Mr McKone asks Miss Walker whether her daughter loved Isabelle, she replies: "I thought she did."
Miss Walker confirms that she never saw her daughter do anything that could have caused Isabelle and harm.
She says they lived were her at one point and had a steady bedtime routine.
Mr McKone asks whether she knew about Simpson bathing Isabelle and she says he would do it when Alexandra was out.
She confirms that she was aware that Alexandra had done some background checks on Harrison Simpson.
When asked about Isabelle's broken leg, she says they thought it was just a fracture that happened.
She confirms that she was not aware of Alexandra being asked whether she was the victim of domestic abuse.
Mr McKone asks Miss Walker whether she thought Isabelle needed to be kept in hospital overnight, she says: "No."
"Did you support her taking Isabelle home?," he asks. Miss Walker replies: "Yes."
2:14pm25/06/26
Trail resumes
The trial resumes with Claire Walker giving further evidence.
Alexandra Walker's mother will first take some questions from Mark McKone KC, who represents the 25-year-old.
The barrister says he will ask her about five brief topics including questions about her former boyfriends.
Miss Walker confirms that her daughter was the victim of domestic abuse from two men, including Isabelle's father.
She confirms that Alexandra got CCTV in her home for her own protection.
When asked whether she had met Harrison Simpson, she says she hadn't because 'he suffers with anxiety and doesn't want to meet with me'.
She confirms that she would see her daughter every day when she was off work - up to three to five times a week.
When asked if Alexandra was a good mother, she says: "I have never seen her harm her or hit her."
Miss Walker confirms that her daughter would give Isabelle as much as she could and she was 'always immaculately dressed'.
12:50pm25/06/26
Second interview
The police are asking Ms Walker about when she changed Isabelle's nappy when she noticed the little bruise on her hip.
She says it was on Thursday, September 11 but never noticed any bruising on her granddaughter's genitals.
When asked what she was thinking at the time. "I was just thinking 'how has she got these bruises?' they weren't massive," she says.
"I didn't think that the bruises were abuse."
She says she had an argument with Alexandra about the injuries. When asked what explanation she gave her, she says she told her she had bumped her head.
Ms Walker tells the police officer that her daughter installed the CCTV in her home for her own safety after she was the victim of domestic abuse.
The hearing has adjourned for lunch.
12:38pm25/06/26
Isabelle's injuries
Ms Walker says she noticed Isabelle had a bump on her head and a bruise on her back after she had been taken to hospital for her broken leg.
She say: "I had never seen them before. There was one on the bottom of her spine and the bump on her head."
Isabelle also had a fingerprint bruise on her hip, she says.
When asked what Alexandra said to her about the hip bruise, she replies: "She said she had banged it on the settee or something."
The officer asked how Isabelle appeared. "She was looking white, at that time, I thought she just had a virus," she says.
Ms Walker tells the police that she had never met Harrison Simpson but had seen a photograph of him.
12:25pm25/06/26
Grandmother's 'regret'
Ms Walker says her partner had picked her up from work and taken her straight to the University Hospital of North Tees.
She says Alexandra told her that she had phoned her stepfather when she picked Isabelle up and she was 'unresponsive'.
The officer asks her whether Isabelle had been ill in the days leading up to her death. She says Isabelle was taken to hospital as she had been limping on her bad leg.
She says 'she was the worst I had seen her' when she visited her the day before Isabelle died.
Ms Walker says Isabelle was also complaining about her stomach hurting but she thought was just because she had been 'throwing up'.
She says she 'is going to regret it for the rest of her life' that she didn't take Isabelle to the doctors on that day.
12:16pm25/06/26
Video evidence
Claire Walker was interviewed by police following the death of her granddaughter.
She tells the officers that her partner, Dan Ackroyd, called her to tell her that Isabelle was seriously ill and she had suffered a brain injury.
Ms Walker says she was told that Isabelle had been taken to the RVI in Newcastle and they headed up there while Isabelle was in emergency care.
She says she told her daughter that she would likely be arrested following the death of Isabelle in the early hours of the morning.
She says: "I was in shock."
The grandmother says she went to see Isabelle the day before and she appeared to be quite ill.
12:02pm25/06/26
Grandmother's evidence
Honourable Ms Justice Norton is telling the jury that they are about to watch a police video interview of Claire Walker, Alexandra's mother, recorded following the death of her granddaughter Isabelle.
She explains to them that it is not unusual for a witness to give evidence in this manner and not in a written statement.
The jury hears how Walker's stepfather, Dan Ackroyd, will also give evidence in this style.
11:31am25/06/26
Medical help
Walker can be heard on the phone to her mother, Claire, saying Isabelle 'has broke nowt' and she intends to keep giving her medicine to ease the pain.
By August 31, Walker is starting to accept that her daughter needs some medical help but is still resisting.
There is now a short break in the hearing.
11:21am25/06/26
Injured leg
Dealing with August 27, Mr Abrahams says a video clip shows Isabelle walking slowly in the garden with an apparent limp.
Later in the day, the CCTV captures Isabelle crying and Walker becoming increasingly frustrated with her, shouting 'what do you want?'.
The footage captures the toddler becoming increasingly distressed and crying loudly.
He says later in the day, Walker is seen drinking alcohol in her kitchen while Simpson is smoking a bong before Walker heads out for a short while.
When she returns home, Walker asks Simpson why he left Isabelle crying and he says 'I didn't hear her, babe'.
Later that evening AW has a text conversation with a friend about the injury to Isabelle’s leg.
Turning to August 28, Mr Abrahams is dealing with a series of messages between Walker and Simpson.
By the evening, Simpson and Walker are in the house together and can be heard talking about Isabelle.
10:55am25/06/26
Video footage
The jury is watching CCTV footage from around 10.10pm on August 23 showing Alexandra Walker and Simpson in the kitchen of the house in Thornaby.
The pair can be heard talking about marks on the two-year-old's legs.
Earlier in the trial, the jury heard how Isabelle suffered a broken leg on or around August 20 but she wasn't taken to hospital until September 2.
Mr Abrahams says Walker searched her new boyfriend's name on an online sex offenders' database.
Footage from August 25, Simpson can be heard asking Isabelle if her leg is hurting while having a conversation with Walker.
10:47am25/06/26
Timeline continues
Paul Abrahams, a member of the prosecuting team, will continue to take Detective Constable Nicola Meakin, of Cleveland Police, through the timeline of events.
The barrister is dealing with details leading up the the alleged murder of Isabelle Welsh.
Jurors are watching CCTV footage of Isabelle sitting on her mother's knee before starting to cry when Harrison Simpson picks her up while they are sitting in the garden on August 23 last year.
CPR attempt
Mr Ackroyd says Alexandra was shaking and crying when he got to her home.
He says paramedics arrived and took over CPR and managed to get Isabelle's heart going again and they took her to the University Hospital of North Tees.
He tells officers that he sees Alexandra around three times a week and would bring Isabelle with her.
Officers then quizzed him about Isabelle being poorly in the period leading up to her death.
He says they thought she has a virus but seemed to have perked up a bit.
The officers asked him if he had noticed any bruising and says he knew she had a hairline fracture of her leg and believed it had been caused by her putting it through the bars of her cot.
2:55pm25/06/26
Stepfather's evidence
Alexandra Walker's stepfather, Dan Ackroyd, was interviewed by police following the death of Isabelle.
He tells the police that she rang him in a total panic and he told her to ring 999 before heading to her home in Thornaby.
"I saw Isabelle on the floor in the hallway," he says. "Alex was holding her hand, I have dropped to me knees straightaway to check her.
"I tried looking for a pulse, to see if she was breathing and started CPR."
The officer asks Mr Ackroyd about Isabelle and how she looked when he got to the house.
He says: "She was very, very pale."
Mr Ackroyd struggles to contain his emotions as police continue to ask him about what happened when he arrived at the house.
2:26pm25/06/26
Isabelle's death
Mr McKone is now asking Miss Walker about the days leading up to her death.
He asks whether she thought she was starting to get better, she says: "The last time I saw her, I thought she was improving.
The completes the evidence of Alexandra Walker's mother.
2:24pm25/06/26
Cross examination
Mr McKone asks Miss Walker whether her daughter loved Isabelle, she replies: "I thought she did."
Miss Walker confirms that she never saw her daughter do anything that could have caused Isabelle and harm.
She says they lived were her at one point and had a steady bedtime routine.
Mr McKone asks whether she knew about Simpson bathing Isabelle and she says he would do it when Alexandra was out.
She confirms that she was aware that Alexandra had done some background checks on Harrison Simpson.
When asked about Isabelle's broken leg, she says they thought it was just a fracture that happened.
She confirms that she was not aware of Alexandra being asked whether she was the victim of domestic abuse.
Mr McKone asks Miss Walker whether she thought Isabelle needed to be kept in hospital overnight, she says: "No."
"Did you support her taking Isabelle home?," he asks. Miss Walker replies: "Yes."
2:14pm25/06/26
Trail resumes
The trial resumes with Claire Walker giving further evidence.
Alexandra Walker's mother will first take some questions from Mark McKone KC, who represents the 25-year-old.
The barrister says he will ask her about five brief topics including questions about her former boyfriends.
Miss Walker confirms that her daughter was the victim of domestic abuse from two men, including Isabelle's father.
She confirms that Alexandra got CCTV in her home for her own protection.
When asked whether she had met Harrison Simpson, she says she hadn't because 'he suffers with anxiety and doesn't want to meet with me'.
She confirms that she would see her daughter every day when she was off work - up to three to five times a week.
When asked if Alexandra was a good mother, she says: "I have never seen her harm her or hit her."
Miss Walker confirms that her daughter would give Isabelle as much as she could and she was 'always immaculately dressed'.
12:50pm25/06/26
Second interview
The police are asking Ms Walker about when she changed Isabelle's nappy when she noticed the little bruise on her hip.
She says it was on Thursday, September 11 but never noticed any bruising on her granddaughter's genitals.
When asked what she was thinking at the time. "I was just thinking 'how has she got these bruises?' they weren't massive," she says.
"I didn't think that the bruises were abuse."
She says she had an argument with Alexandra about the injuries. When asked what explanation she gave her, she says she told her she had bumped her head.
Ms Walker tells the police officer that her daughter installed the CCTV in her home for her own safety after she was the victim of domestic abuse.
The hearing has adjourned for lunch.
12:38pm25/06/26
Isabelle's injuries
Ms Walker says she noticed Isabelle had a bump on her head and a bruise on her back after she had been taken to hospital for her broken leg.
She say: "I had never seen them before. There was one on the bottom of her spine and the bump on her head."
Isabelle also had a fingerprint bruise on her hip, she says.
When asked what Alexandra said to her about the hip bruise, she replies: "She said she had banged it on the settee or something."
The officer asked how Isabelle appeared. "She was looking white, at that time, I thought she just had a virus," she says.
Ms Walker tells the police that she had never met Harrison Simpson but had seen a photograph of him.
12:25pm25/06/26
Grandmother's 'regret'
Ms Walker says her partner had picked her up from work and taken her straight to the University Hospital of North Tees.
She says Alexandra told her that she had phoned her stepfather when she picked Isabelle up and she was 'unresponsive'.
The officer asks her whether Isabelle had been ill in the days leading up to her death. She says Isabelle was taken to hospital as she had been limping on her bad leg.
She says 'she was the worst I had seen her' when she visited her the day before Isabelle died.
Ms Walker says Isabelle was also complaining about her stomach hurting but she thought was just because she had been 'throwing up'.
She says she 'is going to regret it for the rest of her life' that she didn't take Isabelle to the doctors on that day.
12:16pm25/06/26
Video evidence
Claire Walker was interviewed by police following the death of her granddaughter.
She tells the officers that her partner, Dan Ackroyd, called her to tell her that Isabelle was seriously ill and she had suffered a brain injury.
Ms Walker says she was told that Isabelle had been taken to the RVI in Newcastle and they headed up there while Isabelle was in emergency care.
She says she told her daughter that she would likely be arrested following the death of Isabelle in the early hours of the morning.
She says: "I was in shock."
The grandmother says she went to see Isabelle the day before and she appeared to be quite ill.
12:02pm25/06/26
Grandmother's evidence
Honourable Ms Justice Norton is telling the jury that they are about to watch a police video interview of Claire Walker, Alexandra's mother, recorded following the death of her granddaughter Isabelle.
She explains to them that it is not unusual for a witness to give evidence in this manner and not in a written statement.
The jury hears how Walker's stepfather, Dan Ackroyd, will also give evidence in this style.
11:31am25/06/26
Medical help
Walker can be heard on the phone to her mother, Claire, saying Isabelle 'has broke nowt' and she intends to keep giving her medicine to ease the pain.
By August 31, Walker is starting to accept that her daughter needs some medical help but is still resisting.
There is now a short break in the hearing.
11:21am25/06/26
Injured leg
Dealing with August 27, Mr Abrahams says a video clip shows Isabelle walking slowly in the garden with an apparent limp.
Later in the day, the CCTV captures Isabelle crying and Walker becoming increasingly frustrated with her, shouting 'what do you want?'.
The footage captures the toddler becoming increasingly distressed and crying loudly.
He says later in the day, Walker is seen drinking alcohol in her kitchen while Simpson is smoking a bong before Walker heads out for a short while.
When she returns home, Walker asks Simpson why he left Isabelle crying and he says 'I didn't hear her, babe'.
Later that evening AW has a text conversation with a friend about the injury to Isabelle’s leg.
Turning to August 28, Mr Abrahams is dealing with a series of messages between Walker and Simpson.
By the evening, Simpson and Walker are in the house together and can be heard talking about Isabelle.
10:55am25/06/26
Video footage
The jury is watching CCTV footage from around 10.10pm on August 23 showing Alexandra Walker and Simpson in the kitchen of the house in Thornaby.
The pair can be heard talking about marks on the two-year-old's legs.
Earlier in the trial, the jury heard how Isabelle suffered a broken leg on or around August 20 but she wasn't taken to hospital until September 2.
Mr Abrahams says Walker searched her new boyfriend's name on an online sex offenders' database.
Footage from August 25, Simpson can be heard asking Isabelle if her leg is hurting while having a conversation with Walker.
10:47am25/06/26
Timeline continues
Paul Abrahams, a member of the prosecuting team, will continue to take Detective Constable Nicola Meakin, of Cleveland Police, through the timeline of events.
The barrister is dealing with details leading up the the alleged murder of Isabelle Welsh.
Jurors are watching CCTV footage of Isabelle sitting on her mother's knee before starting to cry when Harrison Simpson picks her up while they are sitting in the garden on August 23 last year.
TheMiceInTheShed
VIP Member
They're all the same. When their babies need them, they spend all their energy avoiding paying any maintenance or doing any childcare; if a terrible thing like this happens, they are suddenly the grieving dad, blaming everyone - partner, grandparents, neighbours, social services - but never themselves. It's all "Look at me! I am a broken man. My child has died. Lavish me with attention. And money." So many seem to have a "go fund me" (I don't know if Isabelle's useless father has one or not - this is just a general theme).
Every one of them is a waste of skin, IMO.
WTF. That poor baby must have been in absolute agony in the weeks leading up to her death.
I didn’t think I’d have it in me to follow another case like this after how much Preston’s got to me but I know I’ll end up following to hopefully see justice for the little girl.
is it right that the Mam is being charged with sexual assault/rape too? I can’t find the charges. But if she is, I don’t even know where to start with that
karmadrama
Chatty Member
So if she was alone with Isabelle in the house when the neighbour heard a thud the previous night does that mean she’s the one who inflicted a fatal injury on her? And she knew what she’d done so decided to get drunk/high to forget about it?
Shinythings
VIP Member
She was being repeatedly thrown against the floor or walls from those injuries I am assuming. That poor, poor baby. The pain she must have been in.
It really is just beyond comprehension such deliberate cruelty.
It really is just beyond comprehension such deliberate cruelty.
bigmac22
Well-known member
Can’t remember whether it was mentioned on this thread or Preston Davey’s - but a poster showed a picture that was released of Star Hobson with her face covered in bruises, showing how obvious it would have been that she was being abused and beaten.
That’s all I can think of with poor Isabelle and the extent of her injuries from before the night she was killed - it would have been so obvious to the grandparents.
That’s all I can think of with poor Isabelle and the extent of her injuries from before the night she was killed - it would have been so obvious to the grandparents.
Miscanthus
VIP Member
Unfortunately, for those people asking how this sort of abuse happens, a lot of it is generational - not necessarily pdf but other abuse - and a combination of factors passed down through generations.Oh blimey how delightful..
messytessy
Active member
Sadly, I think as it doesn't have the unique 'adopted and killed by gay couple' element it just doesn't have the same shock factor for the newspapers to want to run the story.
OGJessicaFletcher
VIP Member
Live coverage of Thornaby toddler Isabelle Welsh murder trial - Day 11
Live
By Graeme Hetherington
Read bottom to top …
12:56pm 10/07/26
Hearing adjourned
The hearing has adjourned for the week.
Mrs Justice Norton has told the jury that they will not be required on Monday or Tuesday and the trial will resume on Wednesday when the prosecution is expected to conclude its case.
12:30pm 10/07/26
Cross examination
Mark McKone KC, representing Alexandra Walker, is now cross examining Dr Duplessis.
He asks about the impact of the older head injury and whether she would have been lethargic.
The doctor says there is a likelihood that she could have shown signs of lethargy and could have started to improve.
Mr McKone asks whether Isabelle could have watched tv or eaten her breakfast after suffering the fatal head injury. Dr Duplessis simply replies: "No."
12:00pm 10/07/26
Evidence conclusion
Dr Duplessis says it is clear that the skull fracture was the cause of death and ruled out that it was caused accidentally.
11:58am 10/07/26
Loss of consciousness
Dr Duplessis says she may not have lost consciousness but she would be clearly very unwell and she would immediately deteriorate.
"If she wasn't in a coma from the outset, she would have been unresponsive and floppy," he says.
He tells the jury that it is impossible to accurately determine the time the fatal injury was inflicted as they could have been unconscious for several hours before they go into cardiac arrest.
11:53am 10/07/26
Fatal injury
Dr Duplessis says she suffered a major impact to the skull evident from the fracture but there must have also been very excessive motion of the spine and the head on the spine.
He says there could have been two separate incidents - head impact and violent shaking - but says they could have happened at the same time.
The jury hears there were fractures to Isabelle's limbs being gripped which shows she could have been held and swung against a solid object.
"I would favour that she was gripped by the limbs and flung against a surface," he says. "But it is also possible that there were two events - I can't be certain."
He says shaking is rarely fatal for children of Isabelle's age - a two-year-old would be more physically capable of dealing with the shaking.
11:46am 10/07/26
Brain damage
Dr Duplessis says Isabelle was not getting oxygen or blood to the brain after she suffered a heart attack.
He says she could have started suffering brain damage before the paramedics were called.
"There could have been a period where she suffered critical or fatal brain damage before he paramedics arrived," he says.
The jury hears that the damage to her brain was so severe that an emergency operation to relieve pressure could not have saved her life.
The doctor confirms that there was evidence to two incidents of damage to Isabelle's brain but the event on September 13 was what caused the toddler's death.
11:39am 10/07/26
Spinal chord
Dr Duplessis says there was no response to the injury suffered to Isabelle's spinal column meaning it occurred no more than 48 hours before death.
He says if you find bleeding around the spinal column it rarely occurs in an accidental fashion and shows she was victim to a major non-accidental event causing damage to her head and spine.
The jury hears how there was also evidence of bleeding on the nerve roots - some were from within 48hrs but some were older.
Richard Wright KC asks whether the bleeds could have occurred at the same time as the spinal fractures which Isabelle suffered several days before she died.
The doctor agrees.
The doctor says there was also evidence of older fractures to the top of Isabelle's spine.
11:28am 10/07/26
Older injury
Dr Duplessis says the earlier injured occurred in the days or weeks before Isabelle died.
He says he was unable to say whether that one was an accidental or non-accidental injury.
The jury hears how the doctor inspected the 'bruising' under a microscope which determined it occurred around four days before her death when there was another impact on her head.
He says 'we are not talking about extreme level of force' but it was more than an every day knock to the head.
The doctor says the fibres are like electrical wires which transmit information around different parts of the brain.
The corpus callosum is a section of nerve fibres that connect the brain's left and right hemispheres to enable them to communicate.
He says there was damage to the corpus callosum which was caused by shaking or the impact from the skull fracture.
11:19am 10/07/26
Non-accidental injury
Dr Duplessis says there is strong evidence that the bleed on the brain was a non-accidental injury.
He says there wasn't just one area affected by bleeding which tends to mean that they were not caused in an accident unless Isabelle fell from a building, a road traffic collision or crush injuries.
The jury hears that there was no evidence to indicate any of those situations occurred before Isabelle's death.
"There can be no doubt that this was a traumatic injury," he says.
The jury hears how a vein had torn from the brain resulting in bleeding inside the skull within 24hrs of her death. He says there was also an older bleed discovered during his examinations.
"Looking with the naked eye I could see discolouration which was different from the fresh injury. It was something that might be slightly older because of the change in colour," he says.
11:05am 10/07/26
Head injuries
Dr Duplessis says the bleed on the brain was up to 48 hours but it could be just an hour old as well.
He confirms that it is not days old because there is no evidence of the body natural response to the injury.
The medical expert says there was bleeding in multiple areas of the brain and he ruled out any natural cause for the injury.
He says there is evidence that she suffered traumatic injury due to the multiple bleeds.
"It's likely a non-accidental event but an event caused by forceful movement of the head," he says.
The doctor tells the jury that a rise in pressure caused by the bleed and blood clot can become life-threatening adding that it doesn't take a great deal of blood to cause death.
10:48am 10/07/26
First witness
Dr Daniel Duplessis, a consultant neuropathologist, is the first witness to give evidence today.
He studied the damage to Isabelle's brain and spinal chord.
Jurors hear how he inspected her brain with the naked eye and under specialist microscopes.
He says he examined a blood clot that was essential for him to be able to age the damage to the brain.
10:42am 10/07/26
Trial resumes
You can read a round up of yesterday's evidence here - Toddler Isabelle Welsh suffered sexual and physical abuse, trial hears
Live
By Graeme Hetherington
Read bottom to top …
12:56pm 10/07/26
Hearing adjourned
The hearing has adjourned for the week.
Mrs Justice Norton has told the jury that they will not be required on Monday or Tuesday and the trial will resume on Wednesday when the prosecution is expected to conclude its case.
12:30pm 10/07/26
Cross examination
Mark McKone KC, representing Alexandra Walker, is now cross examining Dr Duplessis.
He asks about the impact of the older head injury and whether she would have been lethargic.
The doctor says there is a likelihood that she could have shown signs of lethargy and could have started to improve.
Mr McKone asks whether Isabelle could have watched tv or eaten her breakfast after suffering the fatal head injury. Dr Duplessis simply replies: "No."
12:00pm 10/07/26
Evidence conclusion
Dr Duplessis says it is clear that the skull fracture was the cause of death and ruled out that it was caused accidentally.
11:58am 10/07/26
Loss of consciousness
Dr Duplessis says she may not have lost consciousness but she would be clearly very unwell and she would immediately deteriorate.
"If she wasn't in a coma from the outset, she would have been unresponsive and floppy," he says.
He tells the jury that it is impossible to accurately determine the time the fatal injury was inflicted as they could have been unconscious for several hours before they go into cardiac arrest.
11:53am 10/07/26
Fatal injury
Dr Duplessis says she suffered a major impact to the skull evident from the fracture but there must have also been very excessive motion of the spine and the head on the spine.
He says there could have been two separate incidents - head impact and violent shaking - but says they could have happened at the same time.
The jury hears there were fractures to Isabelle's limbs being gripped which shows she could have been held and swung against a solid object.
"I would favour that she was gripped by the limbs and flung against a surface," he says. "But it is also possible that there were two events - I can't be certain."
He says shaking is rarely fatal for children of Isabelle's age - a two-year-old would be more physically capable of dealing with the shaking.
11:46am 10/07/26
Brain damage
Dr Duplessis says Isabelle was not getting oxygen or blood to the brain after she suffered a heart attack.
He says she could have started suffering brain damage before the paramedics were called.
"There could have been a period where she suffered critical or fatal brain damage before he paramedics arrived," he says.
The jury hears that the damage to her brain was so severe that an emergency operation to relieve pressure could not have saved her life.
The doctor confirms that there was evidence to two incidents of damage to Isabelle's brain but the event on September 13 was what caused the toddler's death.
11:39am 10/07/26
Spinal chord
Dr Duplessis says there was no response to the injury suffered to Isabelle's spinal column meaning it occurred no more than 48 hours before death.
He says if you find bleeding around the spinal column it rarely occurs in an accidental fashion and shows she was victim to a major non-accidental event causing damage to her head and spine.
The jury hears how there was also evidence of bleeding on the nerve roots - some were from within 48hrs but some were older.
Richard Wright KC asks whether the bleeds could have occurred at the same time as the spinal fractures which Isabelle suffered several days before she died.
The doctor agrees.
The doctor says there was also evidence of older fractures to the top of Isabelle's spine.
11:28am 10/07/26
Older injury
Dr Duplessis says the earlier injured occurred in the days or weeks before Isabelle died.
He says he was unable to say whether that one was an accidental or non-accidental injury.
The jury hears how the doctor inspected the 'bruising' under a microscope which determined it occurred around four days before her death when there was another impact on her head.
He says 'we are not talking about extreme level of force' but it was more than an every day knock to the head.
The doctor says the fibres are like electrical wires which transmit information around different parts of the brain.
The corpus callosum is a section of nerve fibres that connect the brain's left and right hemispheres to enable them to communicate.
He says there was damage to the corpus callosum which was caused by shaking or the impact from the skull fracture.
11:19am 10/07/26
Non-accidental injury
Dr Duplessis says there is strong evidence that the bleed on the brain was a non-accidental injury.
He says there wasn't just one area affected by bleeding which tends to mean that they were not caused in an accident unless Isabelle fell from a building, a road traffic collision or crush injuries.
The jury hears that there was no evidence to indicate any of those situations occurred before Isabelle's death.
"There can be no doubt that this was a traumatic injury," he says.
The jury hears how a vein had torn from the brain resulting in bleeding inside the skull within 24hrs of her death. He says there was also an older bleed discovered during his examinations.
"Looking with the naked eye I could see discolouration which was different from the fresh injury. It was something that might be slightly older because of the change in colour," he says.
11:05am 10/07/26
Head injuries
Dr Duplessis says the bleed on the brain was up to 48 hours but it could be just an hour old as well.
He confirms that it is not days old because there is no evidence of the body natural response to the injury.
The medical expert says there was bleeding in multiple areas of the brain and he ruled out any natural cause for the injury.
He says there is evidence that she suffered traumatic injury due to the multiple bleeds.
"It's likely a non-accidental event but an event caused by forceful movement of the head," he says.
The doctor tells the jury that a rise in pressure caused by the bleed and blood clot can become life-threatening adding that it doesn't take a great deal of blood to cause death.
10:48am 10/07/26
First witness
Dr Daniel Duplessis, a consultant neuropathologist, is the first witness to give evidence today.
He studied the damage to Isabelle's brain and spinal chord.
Jurors hear how he inspected her brain with the naked eye and under specialist microscopes.
He says he examined a blood clot that was essential for him to be able to age the damage to the brain.
10:42am 10/07/26
Trial resumes
You can read a round up of yesterday's evidence here - Toddler Isabelle Welsh suffered sexual and physical abuse, trial hears
MistyWindows
VIP Member
I don’t know, but I assume someone who grew up in an extremely deprived, bleak as fuck area, where there’s no employment, where addiction, mental health issues and due to the former, things like domestic violenceand abuse are rife.
It’s not classist to say this at all, I’m from a deprived area of the Midlands where there were huge industries that went to shit and left everyone with no work, previous governments didn’t invest in these areas (especially in the North/Midlands) for anything like healthcare, community enrichment or education and it absolutely sucks. Theres no prospects.
There’s a reason why extremist parties like Reform have high voters in these places, because they (falsely) offer a glimpse of hope.
Of course that’s not to say that everyone growing up in these places, and/or grew up in horrible environments, end up doing horrendous crimes like this and it seems that the community have condemned not only AW’s family, but also seem to have a lot to say about the bio dad and his family too.
Glasgow Girl
Member
Regardless of any background on bio dad or his family.
I cannot even imagine sitting in a court having to hear the things and details they heard about little issabelle his wee girl. Must be soul destroying
OGJessicaFletcher
VIP Member
I feel exactly the same, what’s being reported is definitely not the full picture, more of a summary. It’s really challenging to follow, especially with the horrific details of the abuse & injuries unfolding.
AW has deliberately deceived everyone around her including professionals & her own mum to hide any physical abuse, when according to the pathologist, multiple injuries were clearly visible!
Eleven days before Isabelle died, AW claimed the toddler was ready to return to “nursery” but she was instead kept at home. This was a cover story, as the prosecution’s timeline clearly established Isabelle was being kept isolated at her home, she wasn’t even registered for nursery, let alone attending one!
The health visitor who made the “follow up” phone call with AW regarding Isabelle's broken leg (after the frantic discharge from hospital, due to safeguarding) was told by AW that Isabelle “didn't require a cast on her leg and could go back to nursery”. As a result, the health visitor closed the follow up without physically visiting the Thornaby home. AW led the HV to believe Isabelle was ready to reintegrate into nursery, the reality is AW evaded any in person check which could have ultimately saved Isabelle’s life!
When AW’s mother visited her daughter she did notice a bruise on Isabelle’s back & although she questioned it, AW brushed it off, claiming she’d simply bumped her head on a settee and looked unwell because she had “picked up a virus” from the hospital! AW made several calculated attempts to keep Isabelle isolated.
Despite the claim that Isabelle was well enough to attend
nursery, AW used a completely contradictory story with her friends & family to explain why no one could see her! Mobile phone records revealed that AW sent multiple text messages to her friends and family claiming Isabelle “wasn't well” or was “still in bed” all the while telling professionals the child was fine for nursery. AW was clearly lying to all her friends & family claiming Isabelle was too sick to get out of bed
Last edited: