GUILTY UK - Lexi Draper, 3, & Scarlett Vaughan, 16 mos, murdered, Skiddaw, Rugby, Jan/Feb 2018 *GUILTY*
- Thread starter Tortoise
- Start date
Birmingham Crown Court 8 T20197175
Louise Porton
Details: Trial (Part Heard) - Resume - 10:04
Trial (Part Heard) - Case adjourned until 10:30 - 10:20
Trial (Part Heard) - Prosecution Opening - 11:08
Trial (Part Heard) - Case adjourned until 14:00 - 13:03
Trial (Part Heard) - Prosecution Opening - 14:02
Trial (Part Heard) - Case adjourned until 10:30 - 15:38
Louise Porton
Details: Trial (Part Heard) - Resume - 10:04
Trial (Part Heard) - Case adjourned until 10:30 - 10:20
Trial (Part Heard) - Prosecution Opening - 11:08
Trial (Part Heard) - Case adjourned until 14:00 - 13:03
Trial (Part Heard) - Prosecution Opening - 14:02
Trial (Part Heard) - Case adjourned until 10:30 - 15:38
A Midland mum is accused of murdering her two daughters three weeks apart because they “got in the way” of her X-rated lifestyle.
A jury was told Louise Porton, 22, allegedly suffocated Lexi Draper, three, and then killed 17-month-old Scarlett Vaughan some 18 days later.
[...]
Birmingham crown court heard claims she sent a topless snap of herself from the hospital toilets while Lexi was being treated by medics.
More to read at link
Mum 'murdered daughters because they got in way of X-rated lifestyle'
A jury was told Louise Porton, 22, allegedly suffocated Lexi Draper, three, and then killed 17-month-old Scarlett Vaughan some 18 days later.
[...]
Birmingham crown court heard claims she sent a topless snap of herself from the hospital toilets while Lexi was being treated by medics.
More to read at link
Mum 'murdered daughters because they got in way of X-rated lifestyle'
She previously searched for how long it took a body to "go cold up to the shoulder" and "five weird things that happen when you die", the jury heard.
Oliver Saxby QC said there no natural cause to explain the sisters' deaths.
Opening the prosecution case at Birmingham Crown Court, Mr Saxby said Lexi was taken to hospital on 2 and 4 January 2018 with apparent breathing problems.
Doctors believed she had a chest infection and she was discharged with antibiotics.
Paramedics who responded to a emergency call from Ms Porton on 15 January found Lexi dead, said Mr Saxby.
More to read at link
Murder accused mum 'researched death'
Oliver Saxby QC said there no natural cause to explain the sisters' deaths.
Opening the prosecution case at Birmingham Crown Court, Mr Saxby said Lexi was taken to hospital on 2 and 4 January 2018 with apparent breathing problems.
Doctors believed she had a chest infection and she was discharged with antibiotics.
Paramedics who responded to a emergency call from Ms Porton on 15 January found Lexi dead, said Mr Saxby.
More to read at link
Murder accused mum 'researched death'
I've just found the live updates today from Coventry Telegraph so I'll post them up
Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap
Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap
10:22
Who's who?
To help you follow the case today, here’s a list of who will be representing who in court.
The CPS’s case will be put forward during the trial by Oliver Saxby QC, who will be assisted by Nina Ellin.
Defending Porton will be Andrew Smith QC, who will be alongside Peter Cooper.
10:29
What will happen first?
Today the jury, who were sworn in last week, will first hear the case from the prosecution.
The trial will get underway in Court 8 shortly.
Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap
Who's who?
To help you follow the case today, here’s a list of who will be representing who in court.
The CPS’s case will be put forward during the trial by Oliver Saxby QC, who will be assisted by Nina Ellin.
Defending Porton will be Andrew Smith QC, who will be alongside Peter Cooper.
10:29
What will happen first?
Today the jury, who were sworn in last week, will first hear the case from the prosecution.
The trial will get underway in Court 8 shortly.
Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap
10:31
Public gallery full
The public gallery is full ahead of this morning’s opening by the prosecution service.
11:09
Jury in
The jury has now entered the courtroom and Mr Saxby is now opening the case.
He begins by introducing all of the barristers and the defendant to the jury - made up of 10 men and two women.
11:12
Deaths within 18 days of each other
Mr Saxby says: “This case concerns the deaths of this defendant’s two young children. Their names are Lexi and Scarlett.
“Lexi was three years old when she died. Scarlett was 17 months old when she died. And they died within 18 days of each other.”
Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap
Public gallery full
The public gallery is full ahead of this morning’s opening by the prosecution service.
11:09
Jury in
The jury has now entered the courtroom and Mr Saxby is now opening the case.
He begins by introducing all of the barristers and the defendant to the jury - made up of 10 men and two women.
11:12
Deaths within 18 days of each other
Mr Saxby says: “This case concerns the deaths of this defendant’s two young children. Their names are Lexi and Scarlett.
“Lexi was three years old when she died. Scarlett was 17 months old when she died. And they died within 18 days of each other.”
Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap
11:16
First hospital visit
The jury hears that Porton called 111 on the evening of January 2, 2018, as she thought Lexi had had a fit and stopped breathing.
“Later that evening, she took Lexi to hospital,” says Mr Saxby.
“Lexi was examined, she had recovered, no cause could be found for the fit and she was allowed home the next day.”
11:16
'Deep state of unconsciousness'
“In the early hours of the following morning – January 4 - she called 999,” Mr Saxby added.
“Again, Lexi had stopped breathing. This time, paramedics attended her address. They found Lexi in a deep state of unconsciousness.
“They revived her and took her to hospital where she was admitted for a more thorough examination.”
Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap
First hospital visit
The jury hears that Porton called 111 on the evening of January 2, 2018, as she thought Lexi had had a fit and stopped breathing.
“Later that evening, she took Lexi to hospital,” says Mr Saxby.
“Lexi was examined, she had recovered, no cause could be found for the fit and she was allowed home the next day.”
11:16
'Deep state of unconsciousness'
“In the early hours of the following morning – January 4 - she called 999,” Mr Saxby added.
“Again, Lexi had stopped breathing. This time, paramedics attended her address. They found Lexi in a deep state of unconsciousness.
“They revived her and took her to hospital where she was admitted for a more thorough examination.”
Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap
11:18KEY EVENT
'Deliberate' interference with breathing
Mr Saxby says that Lexi’s “symptoms were consistent with some sort of deliberate airway obstruction – i.e. with someone having deliberately interfered with her ability to breathe”.
He states that doctors “had no reason to suspect this at the time” and thought Lexi had a chest infection and was given antibiotics before being discharged on January 8.
Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap
'Deliberate' interference with breathing
Mr Saxby says that Lexi’s “symptoms were consistent with some sort of deliberate airway obstruction – i.e. with someone having deliberately interfered with her ability to breathe”.
He states that doctors “had no reason to suspect this at the time” and thought Lexi had a chest infection and was given antibiotics before being discharged on January 8.
Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap
11:21
Lexi 'dead for some time'
Then on January 15, Porton called 999 as Lexi had stopped breathing.
Medics arrived and found Lexi dead.
“Indeed, it was clear that she had been dead for some time,” says Mr Saxby.
11:22
'Unemotional and detached'
The prosecutor tells the court: “Judging how an innocent mother – a mother not responsible for her three-year old’s death – would react in such circumstances is nigh on impossible; and allowances must be made – shock and grief can manifest themselves in very different ways.”
He says medics thought she was “particularly unemotional and detached” and “in the days that followed, the defendant’s attitude to what had happened, and behaviour, was not always as one would expect of an innocent mother coming to terms with so shocking a bereavement”.
Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap
Lexi 'dead for some time'
Then on January 15, Porton called 999 as Lexi had stopped breathing.
Medics arrived and found Lexi dead.
“Indeed, it was clear that she had been dead for some time,” says Mr Saxby.
11:22
'Unemotional and detached'
The prosecutor tells the court: “Judging how an innocent mother – a mother not responsible for her three-year old’s death – would react in such circumstances is nigh on impossible; and allowances must be made – shock and grief can manifest themselves in very different ways.”
He says medics thought she was “particularly unemotional and detached” and “in the days that followed, the defendant’s attitude to what had happened, and behaviour, was not always as one would expect of an innocent mother coming to terms with so shocking a bereavement”.
Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap
11:26
Second daughter's death
On February 1, Porton again called 111 saying she was in her car with Scarlett and was heading to hospital.
“The operator asked the defendant to see if she could wake,” says Mr Saxby.
“The defendant went through the process – you may well conclude having heard the evidence that this was something of a charade – of seeing if she could wake Scarlett. But she could not.
“Because Scarlett was dead.”
The court hears she had been “dead for some time”.
11:28
Prosecutor: No natural cause for deaths
The jury hears that a police investigation was launched and “a number of specialist doctors” were involved.
Mr Saxby says no natural cause for the deaths could be found and says symptoms show a “deliberate airway obstruction”.
He says the “overwhelming inference is that Lexi and Scarlett died because someone deliberately interfered with their breathing” and that person was their mother.
Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap
Second daughter's death
On February 1, Porton again called 111 saying she was in her car with Scarlett and was heading to hospital.
“The operator asked the defendant to see if she could wake,” says Mr Saxby.
“The defendant went through the process – you may well conclude having heard the evidence that this was something of a charade – of seeing if she could wake Scarlett. But she could not.
“Because Scarlett was dead.”
The court hears she had been “dead for some time”.
11:28
Prosecutor: No natural cause for deaths
The jury hears that a police investigation was launched and “a number of specialist doctors” were involved.
Mr Saxby says no natural cause for the deaths could be found and says symptoms show a “deliberate airway obstruction”.
He says the “overwhelming inference is that Lexi and Scarlett died because someone deliberately interfered with their breathing” and that person was their mother.
Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap
11:36
Landlady: "She would do whatever she could not to have them with her"
Moving to the background in the case, Mr Saxby says that Lexi was born in October 2014 when Porton was 18 and Scarlett was born in September 2016 when Porton was 20 years old.
From August 2016 until early November 2017, Porton lived in Willenhall, near Walsall, and her landlady was a lady called Leigh-Anne Bradley.
She would often help Porton with her two children.
In her statement to police, Leigh-Anne Bradley said: “It was very rare that Louise would ever have the children…She would do whatever she could not to have them with her.”
11:40
'Burden' on young mother
Mr Saxby says: “No doubt, being a young mother of two young children will have placed an enormous burden on the defendant; and, no doubt, she needed time to herself.
“But, in the context of what was later to happen – in the context of two unexplained deaths consistent with deliberate airway obstruction – it is hard not to draw the conclusion that, for the defendant, at times, her two children got in the way of her doing what she wanted, when she wanted and with whom she wanted.”
Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap
Landlady: "She would do whatever she could not to have them with her"
Moving to the background in the case, Mr Saxby says that Lexi was born in October 2014 when Porton was 18 and Scarlett was born in September 2016 when Porton was 20 years old.
From August 2016 until early November 2017, Porton lived in Willenhall, near Walsall, and her landlady was a lady called Leigh-Anne Bradley.
She would often help Porton with her two children.
In her statement to police, Leigh-Anne Bradley said: “It was very rare that Louise would ever have the children…She would do whatever she could not to have them with her.”
11:40
'Burden' on young mother
Mr Saxby says: “No doubt, being a young mother of two young children will have placed an enormous burden on the defendant; and, no doubt, she needed time to herself.
“But, in the context of what was later to happen – in the context of two unexplained deaths consistent with deliberate airway obstruction – it is hard not to draw the conclusion that, for the defendant, at times, her two children got in the way of her doing what she wanted, when she wanted and with whom she wanted.”
Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap
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11:45
111 calls played to court
The court hears that in November 2017 Porton was provided with temporary accommodation at Parkside Guest House in Rugby and was there until January 9, 2018, when she moved to Beechwood Court.
Mr Saxby says that soon after 9pm on January 2, 2018, Porton called 111 and spoke to a clinician, before further calls to 111 were also made.
The jury is now hearing those calls as they are played in court.
11:58
Hospital told of seizure
In those calls Porton stated that Lexi had suffered a seizure while watching TV.
Soon after the calls were made to 101, Porton went to University Hospital in Coventry with Lexi and said her daughter had been her ‘normal self’ before the seizure, says the prosecutor.
She said that during the seizure Lexi’s arms and legs started to shake, her lips went blue and she was not breathing, and added that the three-year-old had never had a seizure before.
Lexi was examined at the hospital and no abnormalities were found and at 6am on January 3 she was discharged home.
12:09
Phone seized
Mr Saxby says: “When in due course an investigation into the deaths of Lexi and Scarlett was launched, police seized the defendant’s phone and were able to piece together something of the life she was leading.
“Putting it simply - and I hope neutrally - this wasn’t a life in which caring for her two young children - indeed, having two young children to care for – always easily fitted.”
Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap
111 calls played to court
The court hears that in November 2017 Porton was provided with temporary accommodation at Parkside Guest House in Rugby and was there until January 9, 2018, when she moved to Beechwood Court.
Mr Saxby says that soon after 9pm on January 2, 2018, Porton called 111 and spoke to a clinician, before further calls to 111 were also made.
The jury is now hearing those calls as they are played in court.
11:58
Hospital told of seizure
In those calls Porton stated that Lexi had suffered a seizure while watching TV.
Soon after the calls were made to 101, Porton went to University Hospital in Coventry with Lexi and said her daughter had been her ‘normal self’ before the seizure, says the prosecutor.
She said that during the seizure Lexi’s arms and legs started to shake, her lips went blue and she was not breathing, and added that the three-year-old had never had a seizure before.
Lexi was examined at the hospital and no abnormalities were found and at 6am on January 3 she was discharged home.
12:09
Phone seized
Mr Saxby says: “When in due course an investigation into the deaths of Lexi and Scarlett was launched, police seized the defendant’s phone and were able to piece together something of the life she was leading.
“Putting it simply - and I hope neutrally - this wasn’t a life in which caring for her two young children - indeed, having two young children to care for – always easily fitted.”
Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap
12:11
Leaving children alone
The jury is now being taken through phone records in relation to Porton’s mobile phone.
During one exchange in November 2017 she admits that she sometimes leaves her children asleep at their home while popping to the shop, which usually takes around four minutes and admits to leaving them alone for around six minutes if popping to the bathroom.
Mr Saxby says this message shows she admits to “habitually” leaving the children alone.
12:20
Messages on phone
While chatting with two men on January 1, 2018, Porton sent messages including “sexual images” and discussed wanting money and agreeing to meet for sex, the phone records show according to Mr Saxby.
Then on January 2, Porton sent a message to her sister Karen saying that she thought Lexi had suffered a fit and was “waiting for a call back” from 111.
Mr Saxby says this message was sent before Porton had made her first call to 111 that evening.
12:25
999 call played
Moving to January 4, 2018, Mr Saxby tells the jury that Porton made a 999 call in the early hours.
That call is now being played in court.
In it, Porton says that Lexi isn’t breathing or conscious, and the operator tries to guide her through life support before paramedics arrive.
Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap
Leaving children alone
The jury is now being taken through phone records in relation to Porton’s mobile phone.
During one exchange in November 2017 she admits that she sometimes leaves her children asleep at their home while popping to the shop, which usually takes around four minutes and admits to leaving them alone for around six minutes if popping to the bathroom.
Mr Saxby says this message shows she admits to “habitually” leaving the children alone.
12:20
Messages on phone
While chatting with two men on January 1, 2018, Porton sent messages including “sexual images” and discussed wanting money and agreeing to meet for sex, the phone records show according to Mr Saxby.
Then on January 2, Porton sent a message to her sister Karen saying that she thought Lexi had suffered a fit and was “waiting for a call back” from 111.
Mr Saxby says this message was sent before Porton had made her first call to 111 that evening.
12:25
999 call played
Moving to January 4, 2018, Mr Saxby tells the jury that Porton made a 999 call in the early hours.
That call is now being played in court.
In it, Porton says that Lexi isn’t breathing or conscious, and the operator tries to guide her through life support before paramedics arrive.
Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap
12:32
Emergency treatment
Mr Saxby says that the paramedics who arrived found Lexi “lying on the bed and her lips, fingers and around her eyes and ears were turning blue”.
The jury hears she was “in a deep state of unconsciousness” and medics noted a number of “red flag signs” that she was extremely poorly.
Lexi was given emergency treatment, began to revive and was taken to hospital.
12:37
'Woken up to find Lexi shaking'
“At hospital the defendant gave a history of another shaking episode, another fit,” says Mr Saxby.
“She said that she had been in bed with Lexi and that she had woken up to find Lexi shaking in all four limbs. She said that Lexi’s eyes were rolled back and she was unresponsive.
“She said that the shaking had lasted a minute.”
Lexi was examined and various tests were carried out and it was believed her symptoms were due to a “viral respiratory tract infection”.
Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap
Emergency treatment
Mr Saxby says that the paramedics who arrived found Lexi “lying on the bed and her lips, fingers and around her eyes and ears were turning blue”.
The jury hears she was “in a deep state of unconsciousness” and medics noted a number of “red flag signs” that she was extremely poorly.
Lexi was given emergency treatment, began to revive and was taken to hospital.
12:37
'Woken up to find Lexi shaking'
“At hospital the defendant gave a history of another shaking episode, another fit,” says Mr Saxby.
“She said that she had been in bed with Lexi and that she had woken up to find Lexi shaking in all four limbs. She said that Lexi’s eyes were rolled back and she was unresponsive.
“She said that the shaking had lasted a minute.”
Lexi was examined and various tests were carried out and it was believed her symptoms were due to a “viral respiratory tract infection”.
Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap
12:41
Doctors suspected infection
The prosecutor says that “signs of an infection led the doctors to believe that this must have been the cause” of Lexi’s fit.
She was put on antibiotics and on January 8 and was discharged back into her mother’s care.
12:45
Mum agreed to send indecent images from hospital
Mr Saxby - referring to the phone records - says that while in hospital with Lexi, Porton was sending messages to a man asking for money to be sent to her and she would send indecent images of herself from the hospital toilet in exchange.
He tells the jury: “It’s obvious that it isn’t what she is doing - she is entitled to have what contact with whom as she wishes - it’s the context in which she is doing it.
“It’s potentially illustrative and of relevance to this case.”
Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap
Doctors suspected infection
The prosecutor says that “signs of an infection led the doctors to believe that this must have been the cause” of Lexi’s fit.
She was put on antibiotics and on January 8 and was discharged back into her mother’s care.
12:45
Mum agreed to send indecent images from hospital
Mr Saxby - referring to the phone records - says that while in hospital with Lexi, Porton was sending messages to a man asking for money to be sent to her and she would send indecent images of herself from the hospital toilet in exchange.
He tells the jury: “It’s obvious that it isn’t what she is doing - she is entitled to have what contact with whom as she wishes - it’s the context in which she is doing it.
“It’s potentially illustrative and of relevance to this case.”
Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap
12:51
Neighbour: Porton left room before paramedics were called
Police spoke to a resident at Parkside Guest House - where Porton lived - who remembers seeing on CCTV that Porton had left her room to go to the room of another resident and was gone for ‘40 or 50 minutes’ before returning to her room, says Mr Saxby.
He states that the resident told police that “what appeared to be a few seconds later” Porton came back out and soon after the paramedics attended in January 2018.
12:54KEY EVENT
Mum's phone searches
The jury is now being told about the time around Lexi’s death in mid-January.
On January 8, Mr Saxby says the phone records show Porton looking at articles online, including one entitled: “Man commits suicide by superglueing mouth shut.”
There was also an online search that day for ‘Can you actually die if blocked nose and forcibly closed mouth with tape’.
12:58
'Doctors tellin me she gonna die'
On the afternoon of January 14, Porton went out with her two children and her sister Karen and her children to the Brewers Fayre in Rugby and all the children “appeared well”, says Mr Saxby.
CCTV shows the defendant and her children returning to Beechwood Court - where she was now living - just after 7pm.
At 10:30pm that evening, Porton sent a WhatsApp message to someone saying: ‘im just really havin a tuff time with my 3-year old being ill from that deadly flu doctors tellin me she gonna die x’.
13:00
Search on mum's phone: 'How long does it take a dead body to go cold'
The court hears that between 10.33pm and 11.15pm, Porton’s phone records show various website entries including ‘Is it true you s*** yourself when you die?’, ‘For how long after drowning can someone be resuscitated?’, ‘How long does it take a dead body to go cold up to the shoulder?’ and ‘five weird things that happen after you die’.
Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap
Neighbour: Porton left room before paramedics were called
Police spoke to a resident at Parkside Guest House - where Porton lived - who remembers seeing on CCTV that Porton had left her room to go to the room of another resident and was gone for ‘40 or 50 minutes’ before returning to her room, says Mr Saxby.
He states that the resident told police that “what appeared to be a few seconds later” Porton came back out and soon after the paramedics attended in January 2018.
12:54KEY EVENT
Mum's phone searches
The jury is now being told about the time around Lexi’s death in mid-January.
On January 8, Mr Saxby says the phone records show Porton looking at articles online, including one entitled: “Man commits suicide by superglueing mouth shut.”
There was also an online search that day for ‘Can you actually die if blocked nose and forcibly closed mouth with tape’.
12:58
'Doctors tellin me she gonna die'
On the afternoon of January 14, Porton went out with her two children and her sister Karen and her children to the Brewers Fayre in Rugby and all the children “appeared well”, says Mr Saxby.
CCTV shows the defendant and her children returning to Beechwood Court - where she was now living - just after 7pm.
At 10:30pm that evening, Porton sent a WhatsApp message to someone saying: ‘im just really havin a tuff time with my 3-year old being ill from that deadly flu doctors tellin me she gonna die x’.
13:00
Search on mum's phone: 'How long does it take a dead body to go cold'
The court hears that between 10.33pm and 11.15pm, Porton’s phone records show various website entries including ‘Is it true you s*** yourself when you die?’, ‘For how long after drowning can someone be resuscitated?’, ‘How long does it take a dead body to go cold up to the shoulder?’ and ‘five weird things that happen after you die’.
Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap
13:04
Court hears mum's 999 call
Mr Saxby says that at around 12.50am on January 15, Porton’s sister called her for 46 seconds and about 10 seconds after that call finished, the defendant called 999.
The call is played to the jury and they hear Porton say her daughter is unconscious and not breathing.
The operator explains to Porton how to carry out CPR, “but to no avail” says Mr Saxby.
13:07
Paramedics: Toddler "dead for some time"
Paramedics arrived following the 999 call, and it was clear to them that Lexi was dead.
Mr Saxby says Lexi’s “skin was pale and mottled and her lips were blue”.
“She was cold to touch,” he added. “Her jaw was stiff and rigor mortis had already set in. Quite plainly, she had been dead for some time”.”
Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap
Court hears mum's 999 call
Mr Saxby says that at around 12.50am on January 15, Porton’s sister called her for 46 seconds and about 10 seconds after that call finished, the defendant called 999.
The call is played to the jury and they hear Porton say her daughter is unconscious and not breathing.
The operator explains to Porton how to carry out CPR, “but to no avail” says Mr Saxby.
13:07
Paramedics: Toddler "dead for some time"
Paramedics arrived following the 999 call, and it was clear to them that Lexi was dead.
Mr Saxby says Lexi’s “skin was pale and mottled and her lips were blue”.
“She was cold to touch,” he added. “Her jaw was stiff and rigor mortis had already set in. Quite plainly, she had been dead for some time”.”
Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap
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