Blackpool mother squeezed baby to death, jury told

Paramedics attended the home of baby Edith Langley in Blackpool but she could not be revived

A mother inflicted "terrible injuries" on her baby daughter and squeezed her to death, a jury has been told.

Seven-week-old Edith Langley sustained 33 fractures, with virtually all of her ribs broken, Preston Crown Court heard.

Prosecutors claim her mother, Laura Langley, was responsible for her death and the harm caused to the child was "not a one-off".

Ms Langley from Blackpool, denies murder and child cruelty between 14 and 20 November 2020.

Prosecuting, Timothy Cray KC said Ms Langley called 999 on 20 November and told the operator her daughter was not breathing.

Paramedics attended the family home in Belgrave Road, Marton, shortly after the Ms Langley's phone call at 04:00 GMT and took over chest compressions.

Edith could not be revived at Blackpool Victoria Hospital and was declared dead at 04:43.

Mr Cray said Ms Langley claimed the death was sudden, unexplained and inexplicable at the time and in subsequent days.

"The furthest she went in terms of her own responsibility was to put blame on herself for drinking on Thursday night and into the Friday morning," Mr Cray said.

The post-mortem examination evidence suggested Edith died from "terrible injuries", the court heard.

Mr Cray added: "Virtually all her ribs had been broken, with fractures to the back, front and the side of Edith's ribcage."

'Serious assault'

Pathologists who examined Edith concluded 30 of these fractures were caused in the hours immediately before death by "severe compressive - or squeezing - force being applied to her ribs".

The remaining three fractures - cracked ribs - were caused two to four days before death, the court heard.

Mr Cray said: "It was not a one-off."

The prosecutor added: "The defendant carried out a serious assault on Edith in the days before and, later, she carried out a second and fatal attack of the same kind."

No concerns for Edith's welfare were raised by professionals, while Ms Langley's friends and neighbours were under the impression she was a good mother, the jury was told.

Mr Cray said it was clear from text messages sent by Ms Langley in the hours leading up to Edith's death that she "really wanted adult company".

He added: "She was asking people to come to the house and she really wanted to drink."

She said in a message to one friend that Edith was "driving me nuts today" and "won't be put down", and told another: "It's just so hard. I'm tired but can't rest."

Another friend responded to her request for alcohol and dropped off a bottle of wine.

The defendant's blood showed she was effectively twice the drink-drive limit around the time she dialled 999, Mr Cray said.

Ms Langley said nothing to doctors, police or friends that would explain the injuries that were later found, he added.

However jurors heard that she had told Edith's father she had fallen asleep on the couch with her daughter on her chest.

Medical experts have rejected any accidental explanation for Edith's injuries, Mr Cray said.

The trial continues.

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