I have no doubt whatsoever of his guilt, or her guilt as a participating abuser.
1. No reason for discovering Ellie -
They've stitched themselves over with the cake excuse. It was served onto 4 plates in the kitchen. Clearly JG did this (if he did it there would have been 2 pieces, or 3) and it was her reason for sending YD to wake up Ellie. She said this in her police interview the day after, at a time when they hadn't had a chance to align their stories in detail. She stuck with that story until he changed his story when they went to trial in 2015.
If there was another reason for him discovering Ellie he would have given it and wouldn't have changed that part, as he knew it would cause problems for JG's story. He's forced her to admit perverting the course of justice by saying her account of finding Ellie was a lie.
2. JG's blood in the bathroom -
They've both woven JG's visit to the bathroom as soon as she came home, into their versions. I don't think it would have been an important part of his version, or a memory he would have - he can't remember other things because he was in shock - it is something they've agreed to align, not realising that it didn't need to be something he was aware of. By putting it in his version too he's made it a suspicious event. He's trying to account for her blood drops without knowing if she would have left any. They know they have to explain JG's blood drops in the bath. What they haven't explained is her trail leading to the bathroom from Ellie's room. If it was something innocuous such as JG getting a nose bleed in Ellie's room or even injuring herself, they would have just said that. So he injured her. And he must have gone into her room or the bathroom to get JG's towel to throw away. How did he know she had left a bloodied towel?
3. The September school absence -
This is not explained by JG not knowing the date term started. The school rang them both and left messages on both their phones, and emailed, yet they still did not send Ellie back until the following week. That would have been my question to her as a juror. This absence coincides with JG's search for head trauma, which she says was for BB.
4. Not taking Ellie to the hospital for concussion -
His excuse is 2007, her excuse is Ellie seemed fine. Neither are plausible. He would take Ellie to the GP in June when her injuries and symptoms were less serious. They had both done enough medical research to know that concussion was a serious event, especially in a child with life threatening brain injuries as a baby. She didn't even make an internet search then to see what the advice was, so they were hiding this event and she would put herself and him before getting medical treatment for Ellie. Wouldn't even tell the school to keep a special eye on her, when bruising was obvious so she had a reason to be concerned. School had to ask Ellie what happened so obviously neither parent had explained to the teacher.
5. Broken scapula -
Nothing explains why Ellie would not have been in pain or have restricted movement from a broken shoulder, meaning they must have been aware. She was kept off swimming either because of the bruises or because she couldn't rotate her arm fully, even after having been kept at home for 14 days. Getting a medical letter on 8th Oct because school is pressing, but still not sending Ellie back to school until 14th Oct. They've set up a cover story for this with family flu but JG was at work during this time and texting BB saying she was taking pills because she was so ill but had to work. It was their 'evidence' in case Social Services became involved again.
6. JG's list of Ellie's problems -
They are both massively embarrassed about this list. They know it shows that they had singled out Ellie for persecution.
7. Ellie wetting herself -
They are both at pains to say this was about YD. They know what this signifies in a child of Ellie's age - she has been fine for 6 years until she returned to their home.
8. BB's texts -
He hates JG and Ellie. Ellie is just like JG with her mouth. Take Ellie and don't come back. No mention of YD. Ellie obviously triggers his rage and violence and loss of control, just like JG.
9. JG's hospital admissions in a false name -
For this never ending pregnancy termination. There was no ectopic pregnancy, there would not have been uncertainty about that from a 16 week scan. There was no need for the false name, other than protecting BB because of DV injuries.
10. JG's background -
Missing from her evidence in chief. Starts from the date she met BB. He gave his childhood history, hers was passed over. If there was anything there to be proud about - good upbringing, respectability etc they would have laboured it to make a good impression with the jury.
11. Ellie's frequent injuries start after the Social Workers stop visiting -
Nothing for 6 years in care. Nothing November 2015 to end March 2016. Everything starts after that. Every time she is in his care.Twice as a baby of 6 and 7 weeks old, as soon as she arrives at his house. 1st being burns from a radiator to a baby wrapped in a blanket and too young to move herself, 2nd being brain injuries. Nothing in foster care for 6 years, or at school. No tripping over. Every time it involves a black eye and head injury.
12. Tricking the jury with old videos -
Using videos from when Ellie was clearly still in care and being acclimatised to her parents. Her bob haircut grew out after her return. Without those there was an early video of both girls scootering on their patio, a Christmas video, both not long after their return and a sports day run and YD's birthday party. Neither of the two later ones show Ellie looking particularly happy. And JG lied about her experiences with Ellie in the snow and at the pub, when she wasn't even there. Why not use examples of good times where she was with Ellie, if there were any.
13. JG's head lump on her birthday, the same day BB found her diary - the two different excuses for this.
14. JG's diary disposal -
Inconsistent accounts to the jury. He said in EIC he threw it away on the day Ellie died. He said under cross-exam it had been thrown out weeks earlier, when he discovered it. She said she threw it away when he discovered it. Same bin he used when he got rid of rubbish on 28th Oct. No coincidence.
15. Not calling an ambulance -
JG knew Ellie was seriously injured when BB called her. She did not call an ambulance in the taxi. That is cruelty and neglect right there, even without a broken shoulder. She attempted resuscitation so had no reason to think it might not be too late, and an ambulance might still save her.
16. No one asks YD what happened -
The first thing you would do. You would be driven by a need to know how your child died. Lack of questions means no need to ask.
17. Lack of shock -
Walking of dog, smile, wave and chat with neighbours about weather is callous and calculated. Sending YD to wake up her dead sister is unimaginable.
18. Covering up for BB -
She has many reasons to suspect it was BB. She could turn him in, walk away and potentially keep YD. He has something on her. Even if that was just she didn't act to protect Ellie, she enabled it. Or is it that she was violent too? We know she split his jaw. Her drunkenness?