GUILTY UK - Jordan Burling, 18, Died Weighing Less Than 6 Stone, Body Of Baby Also Found, Leeds, June 2016

[Tortoise]

10:08
Sentencing to get underway shortly
The sentencing will begin at around 10.15am after a harrowing few weeks reporting on the trial of the death of Jordan Burling, found dead in New Farnley back in 2016.

10:09
Public gallery packed
The press and public are in position in the courtroom. As expected it is very busy as we wait for the arrivial of the judge and three women who are due to be sentenced.

10:20
Dawn and Denise Cranston are now in court
The judge and jury along with defendants Denise Cranston and Dawn Cranston are now in the courtroom.

The judge says Susan Burling, Jordan’s aunt, will read a victim impact statement.


10:43
"I have lost all my children and I don't know how to deal with all this trauma"
Susan read the short statement on behalf of Stephen Burling - Jordan’s father.

In the statement he said:

‘I just can’t understand why all these horrific things have happened to me and my family.’

He added:

‘I have lost all my children and I don’t know how I’m supposed to deal with all this trauma.

‘I don’t know how I’m going to grieve for them or rebuild my life.’

He went on to say that Jordan’s death and the discovery of his dead baby son had ‘deeply troubled’ his family.

Mum and gran to be sentenced for death of Leeds teenager - live updates

 

[Tortoise]

Manslaughter, not murder
Following the verdicts there have been questions on social media about why the Cranstons and Abigail Burling were accused of manslaughter and not murder.

We explain the laws governing murder, manslaughter and concealment of a child’s birth below.

Read more: Why Jordan Burling’s mum, gran and sister were charged with manslaughter and not murder

Mum and gran to be sentenced for death of Leeds teenager - live updates

(An update from a few days ago - not today)

 

[Tortoise]

They don't mention Abigail being in court.

 

[Tortoise]

11:25
There was a 'degree of effort and time'
Mr Kealey has outlined some mitigating circumstances.


He began by arguing Dawn is ‘the product of a disfunctional family background’ and she had to cope with her father’s suicide and care for her severely autistic brother.


He also said there was clear evidence of Dawn’s ‘intention to care’ for Jordan and said there was ‘a degree of effort and time’.
Mum and gran to be sentenced for death of Leeds teenager - live updates

 

[Tortoise]

11:33
There was a 'significant degree of improvement' in Jordan's teenage years
Mr Kealey also pointed out that while Jordan was not well cared for as a child, records show there was ‘a significant degree of improvement’ in his teenage years and attempts to help him gain an education.


He then highlighted evidence submitted by psychologists which show that Dawn has struggled with mental health problems and she has recognised dissociative conditions which impede her ability to adequately respond to difficult situations.
Mum and gran to be sentenced for death of Leeds teenager - live updates

 

[Tortoise]

11:37
'Denise's' life hasn't been straightforward'
Mr Cook, representing Denise Cranston , then outlined the following mitigating circumstances for his client:

• She is a 70 year old woman and there are signs that her physical health may be deteriorating
  
• Her life ‘has not been straightforward’ and she was married to a ‘controlling’ man for 37 years who suffered from mental health problems before committing suicide
  
• Denise and her family were repeatedly targeted by anti social behaviour which caused them to ‘withdraw’-She is in the bottom 10 per cent of the population for intelligence and has ‘the tendency to go along with things even when she does not necessarily agree with them’

Mum and gran to be sentenced for death of Leeds teenager - live updates

 

[Tortoise]

11:43
'Denise clearly cared for her grandson'
Mr Cook also told the court that Denise cared for her grandson. He said:

‘We submit that this is a case where Denise Cranston clearly cared for her grandson, not just in a practical care that she provided but also emotionally.

‘My Lord will recall the evidence that she was distraught when ambulance technicians arrived.’
Mum and gran to be sentenced for death of Leeds teenager - live updates

 

[Tortoise]

11:46
Barrister representing Abigail Burling outlines mitigating factors
The barrister representing Abigail Burling then took the opportunity to outline the following mitigating factors for his client before asking the judge to consider a suspended sentence for Abigail.


He began by arguing that Abigail ‘was not grossly negligent but her failure to summon (medical) assistance was not reasonable’.
He went on to say that she has already been ‘profoundly’ affected by Jordan’s death and the court proceedings.
Mum and gran to be sentenced for death of Leeds teenager - live updates

 

[Legally Bland]

Thanks for the updates, Tortoise.

I'm getting worried about Abigail.

I hope the victim impact statement shouldn't be taken literally.

ETA: I see Abigail's barrister is mitigating. Worry over.

 

[Tortoise]

11:48
'The effects on her are profound'
The barrister pointed out that Abigail’s daughter has been forceably removed for her and adopted by another family, while she has being forced out of her family home in Butterbowl Garth by neighbours who have read about the trial.


She will also ‘lose the support of her mother and grandmother’, he said.

He added:

The effects on her are profound. I don’t say any of that to diminish what she has done or in any way play down the troubling nature of this offence, or the way it played out for Jordan.

But that is he reality of her position.
Mum and gran to be sentenced for death of Leeds teenager - live updates

 

[Tortoise]

I thought I saw a picture of the house with metal shutters on the windows and doors.

 

[Tortoise]

I wonder who is caring for Dawn's brother now.

 

[Tortoise]

looks like the reporter has been playing catch up

For Sentence - Case adjourned until 12:00 - 11:03
Leeds Crown Court Listings, hearings, cases & details

 

[Tortoise]

The teenager left to waste away

 

[Legally Bland]

At the beginning of the trial the pictures of the house didn't show any boarding up.

Farnley Mother and grandmother of Jordan Burling 18 didn't seem bothered as he died | Daily Mail Online

 

[Tortoise]

12:05
Judge will take a short break
After listening to the mitigation’s the judge decided to take a short break to review what was said.
He told the court he will sentence the women shortly after midday.
Mum and gran to be sentenced for death of Leeds teenager - live updates

 

[Tortoise]

Case with similarities - let's see if any social workers are put on trial for manslaughter in this case - Lisa McCarthy death: Family of Finsbury mum accuses mental health carers of ‘leaving her to rot’

 

[Tortoise]

Sentencing in Jordan Burling trial interrupted by fire alarm at Leeds Crown Court ⁦@BBCLookNorth⁩

 

[Tortoise]

For Sentence - Resume - 12:10
Leeds Crown Court Listings, hearings, cases & details

 

[Tortoise]

I need to step away for a while if anyone else wants to update. If not I can catch up in about half hour.