Overview
- Sean Jefferson, 35, and Amy Clarke, 34, deny murder and related charges as proceedings begin at Stafford Crown Court.
- Jurors were told Darcy-Leigh died on March 29, 2022 after sustaining a catastrophic brain injury on or around March 27 allegedly from violent shaking or her head striking a surface.
- Prosecutors said the infant had 47 rib fractures from separate incidents and leg fractures attributed to squeezing, pulling, twisting, or shaking.
- Medical evidence cited to the court included a massive brain bleed, high intracranial pressure, unreactive pupils, extensive retinal hemorrhages, and spinal column bleeding, with experts reporting no underlying condition to explain the injuries.
- The court heard Jefferson called 999, was described as hysterical and apologetic, and that only the two parents were present when the fatal injuries occurred, as background evidence referenced a volatile relationship, drug and alcohol use, and a missed child-protection registration due to an error.