GUILTY UK - Lexi Draper, 3, & Scarlett Vaughan, 16 mos, murdered, Skiddaw, Rugby, Jan/Feb 2018 *GUILTY*

[Tortoise]

13:12
'Unnaturally detached'
“In truth – whether she was responsible for Lexi’s death or not – she must have known Lexi was dead,” says the prosecutor about Porton.

“Consider how she reacted with caution: I repeat what I have already said – judging how one would react in such circumstances if one had nothing to do with what happened, is very difficult.

“But, it is right to say that, having showed some emotion to start with, before long, she seemed unnaturally detached.”

13:18
Previous hospital visits
Porton told medics that she had given Lexi a bath and put her to bed at 9pm.

She said she had checked on her just before she called the ambulance and found her in the state she was.

Porton also told medics about Lexi’s recent previous visits to hospital.

Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap

 

[Tortoise]

14:11
Breaking the news
Mr Saxby tells the court that on January 15, 2018 - following Lexi’s death earlier that day - a man who knew Porton chatted with her in Rugby and she told him “in the most casual and apparently calm way” that Lexi had died.

Porton added “Only me and this one left now” referring to Scarlett, says Mr Saxby.


14:19
Mum heard 'laughing' at funeral home
Between then and Scarlett’s death 18 days later, a number of people saw Scarlett and she seemed completely healthy.

On January 29, Porton moved in to the Rugby Hotel and the following day she attended a funeral care business - along with her sister and Scarlett - to discuss the arrangements for Lexi’s funeral.

As the funeral arranger left the room briefly, she then heard Porton “on her phone laughing”.

Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap

 

[Tortoise]

14:21
'I'm not coping as well as you think'
Returning to Ms Porton’s phone records, Mr Saxby says that on January 15 - the day of Lexi’s death - Porton was visiting a networking website for models and photographers, and also posted on Facebook about her daughter’s death saying: “Mummy loves you. Can’t believe you are gone.”

Two days later Porton’s sister spoke of her being “emotionless” and “heartless”, and Porton replied saying: “I’m not coping as well as you all think. All I see is Lexi on the floor. It’s just a front and I’m trying my best for Scarlett.”

14:36
Concerns about daughter's health
The court hears that on February 1 Porton was exchanging messages with a man that spoke of them having a baby together and whether or not she was on any sort of contraception.

At about 9.50pm CCTV at a hotel shows Porton with Scarlett in her arms.

Before that, between 7.30pm and 9.50pm, the defendant sent various messages which referred to the possibility of losing Scarlett, to Scarlett being asleep and the defendant being concerned about this, says Mr Saxby.

He says that at 9.37pm, Porton sent a message to somebody saying: “…..takin scarlett up the hospital in abit she aint well. slept twice today not normal shes normally awake all day til night times.

“shes had flu like me i need ur support if scarlett goes bad cant deal with this alone again.”

Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap

 

[Tortoise]

14:42
More messages
Other messages on Porton’s phone at that time included ones where she speaks of the hospital “not knowing” why Lexi had died.

Mr Saxby says more messages to a variety of people spoke of Scarlett’s “ill health” and Porton’s “worry about it”.

In reply, one person told her to call an ambulance and not to wait.

14:48
'Just wanted to get her checked'
CCTV footage showing Porton leaving Rugby Hotel with Scarlett in her arms is now being played to the jury.

Mr Saxby says Porton put Scarlett in to her car and then drove off, going to a petrol station to get fuel and then ended up at Elliott’s Field retail park, before calling 111 at 10.20pm.

Mr Saxby says Porton“told the operator that she was on the way to the hospital, but that she wanted to ‘double check first’.

“She said that Scarlett’s sister had passed away two weeks earlier and that the cause was still not known,” he told the court.

“She said that Scarlett had had flu and that she just wanted to get her checked. She said that Scarlett was asleep but when asked to move her to wake her, she said she could not do so and she then said that she didn’t think she was breathing and that she didn’t feel like she had any pulse.”

Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap

 

[Tortoise]

14:52
'She isn't waking up'
A clinician spoke to Porton on the phone and gave her basic life support instructions.

Mr Saxby says a security guard at Elliott’s Field saw “no obvious signs of distress” from a woman that he could see in a car at the retail park.

The jury is now hearing the call to 111 in which Porton says Scarlett has had flu.

Porton is heard saying that Scarlett is “asleep”, before she says “she isn’t waking up” and then “I don’t think she’s breathing”.

15:05
Paramedic couldn't detect breathing
During the 111 call, Porton then says she doesn’t think Scarlett has a pulse before a clinician guides her on how to perform CPR on her daughter.

The first paramedic arrives just after 10.30pm at the retail park and “was not greeted with the sort of panicked response perhaps you would expect”, says Mr Saxby.

“He went over to the only car he could see with anyone near it. He saw a small child on the driver’s seat, which had been reclined.

“He could see the chest, but he could not see it rise or fall, suggesting that she was not breathing. The child’s eyes were closed.

“He lowered his cheek to her mouth and felt no breath. He started chest compressions and gave oxygen and asked the defendant to help, which she did.”

Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap

 

[Tortoise]

15:12
'Starved of oxygen for some time'
When the ambulance arrived, the paramedic who carried Scarlett to the emergency vehicle described her as “freezing and completely lifeless”, says Mr Saxby.

He says Porton stood by the back of the ambulance and was “calm and showed no emotion”.

The way that Scarlett was in the ambulance “indicated that her body had been starved of oxygen for some time”, says the prosecutor.

Scarlett was pronounced dead at hospital at 11.31pm.

15:13
Snapchat post hours after death
In the hours after Scarlett’s death, Porton sent a series of messages to various people, the court hears.

An image of Lexi and Scarlett was also posted on Snapchat with the words ‘RIP’ and another Snapchat image that same day with the text ‘I met an angel in person’.

Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap

 

[Tortoise]

15:15
'Why would I kill my own kids?'
Post-mortem examinations were conducted on both children.

They did not identify a natural cause of death for either child.

Porton was arrested on March 20, 2018, on suspicion of the murder of both of her daughters and when cautioned, she said: “Why would I kill my own kids?”

15:18
Motive unclear
Mr Saxby tells the jury: “In some cases, motive will be easy to discern: A jealous partner killing in the heat of the moment. A killing to do with drugs etc.

“But there will be cases where working out precisely why someone has done what the evidence proves they have done is very hard. Especially in cases where what has been proved is so unconscionable, so far removed from the behaviour of normal, sensible, rational people.

“The defendant’s question to the officer – ‘Why would I kill my own kids?’ – was a good one.

“But it isn’t one you have to answer in this case. Instead, the question for you is whether the evidence drives you to the sure conclusion that she did. Which we say it does.”

Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap

 

[Tortoise]

15:23
Police interview
Porton was interviewed three times at Nuneaton Police Station.

When asked about both children’s deaths, Porton said Lexi was in hospital for around five days the week before her death.

She said that on January 14, Lexi wasn’t breathing and when medics arrived they told her “there’s nothing they could do”.

In relation to Scarlett, Porton told police she was “getting a bit cranky” and “kept crying”, and when she looked “drowsy”, she decided to take her to the hospital.

She said she rang 111 to get an appointment before just showing up at hospital as she had previously waited for hours with Lexi before she was seen.

Porton told police that she was eventually told by paramedics trying to save Scarlett that there was nothing more they could do.


15:26
Mum denied researching illness on internet
Mr Saxby is taking the jury through some of things that Porton said during her police interviews, which will either be played or read to the jury in more detail later in the trial.

When asked about her phone use around the time of Lexi’s hospital admissions, Porton “said that she wouldn’t message anybody about her kids outside her family”, says Mr Saxby.

Porton also stated that she hadn’t posted anything on social media about Lexi’s passing and had not used the internet to research anything to do with Lexi’s illness, although she thought she had searched the word ‘bronchitis’.

“Asked whether she was responsible for the death of either child, she said that she was not”, the prosecutor says.

Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap

 

[Tortoise]

15:31
Symptoms consistent with "suffocation"
Mr Saxby says a number of specialists have “considered the evidence in this case”.

When it comes to Lexi, Mr Saxby says that “nothing has been found which explains why Lexi had the fit” that Porton claims on January 2.

“She did not have her fit as a result of some sort of natural condition.”

He says that Porton’s “account of a fit followed by an immediate recovery is not credible”.

On January 4 when Lexi had to be revived by medics and taken to hospital, Mr Saxby says Lexi’s symptoms are “unlikely to have been caused by viral infection” and again “nothing has been found which explains why Lexi had this second fit”.

He adds: “Lexi’s symptoms are consistent with deliberate airway obstruction. That is to say, asphyxia or suffocation.”

15:36
'She cannot be telling the truth'
The prosecutor says that “no natural cause of death” has been identified by medical specialists for Lexi’s death.

Mr Saxby adds: “It would have been perfectly possible for the defendant to have asphyxiated Lexi without leaving any obvious signs.

“The defendant’s account of what happened simply is not borne out by the clinical and medical findings.

“In other words, she cannot be telling the truth about what happened – about the sequence of events and so on.”

Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap

 

[Tortoise]

15:42
Bleeding found in soft tissue
As for Scarlett’s death, Mr Saxby says there is again no natural cause of death and bleeding was found in the soft tissue in her neck “consistent with compression, or squeezing, necessarily of a force likely to affect the airway”.

As with Lexi, the defendant’s account of what happened “simply cannot be true”, adds Mr Saxby.


15:44
Mum denied neglect
The court hears that on January 25, 2019, Porton was re-interviewed by police and told about the new medical evidence in the case.

She provided two, short prepared statements.

In the first she says she has “nothing further to add to that account that I gave on March 20, 2018, and robustly deny any involvement in either the neglect, ill treatment or death of my daughters”.

Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap

 

[Tortoise]

15:45
'No involvement' in deaths
In the second statement, Porton said: “Any suggestion that Scarlett was already dead when she and I left the Rugby Hotel on the night of her death is entirely false.

“She was still alive, even when 111 sent an ambulance and we were conveyed to the University Hospital in Coventry, her heart was still beating on the heart monitor.”

She also stated: “My children were never an inconvenience to me and I accommodated my lifestyle and personal life around them.

“It is correct that life as a single mother was financially difficult, but I never asked anyone for money and any suggestion that I used my daughter’s ill health or death to make any money is wholly inaccurate and wrong.

“I still don’t know how my daughters died, or what caused it. I maintain I have absolutely no involvement in the death of my children.”

15:47
End of first day in court
That concludes the prosecution’s opening speech.

The trial had adjourned for the day and will resume on Thursday.

Mum on trial accused of murdering daughters - recap

 

[Tortoise]

I wonder what length of sentence she's going to get.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

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.

Grim. The children were clearly inconvenient to her. Guilty.

Excellent updating as usual, thanks @Tortoise

 

[Tortoise]

The trial, which is expected to last three weeks, continues.


Read more: Mum 'murdered daughters because they got in her way of her sex work' | Metro News

 

[CoverMeCagney]

I wonder what length of sentence she's going to get.

I'm hoping she gets life.

 

[Tortoise]

I've typed up a timeline.

2014

Oct – Lexi born, LP is 18.

2016

Aug – LP moves to Willenhall – landlady Leigh-Anne Bradley. Landlady says it was rare for LP to have her children.

Sept – Scarlett born, LP is 20.


2017

Nov – LP moves into temporary accommodation at Parkside Guest House, Rugby.

Nov – admits in phone messages she leaves her daughters at home alone.


2018

Jan 1st

LP sends messages to 2 men - sexual images and agrees to meet for sex if they will pay her.

Jan 2nd

Pre-9 pm LP messages her sister saying she thinks Lexi had a fit and waiting for a call back from 111. Hasn't called 111 yet.

9 pm - LP calls 111 – thinks Lexi had a seizure and stopped breathing while watching TV. Further calls to 111

Later evening – LP takes Lexi to University Hospital, Coventry – no cause found.

Jan 3rd

6 am - Lexi discharged from hospital.

Jan 4th

Early hours - Resident at Guest House sees LP on CCTV leaving her room to go to another room for 40-50 minutes. This was a few seconds before paramedics attended on the 999 call.

Early hours – LP calls 999. Lexi stopped breathing/unconscious/eyes rolled back/shaking for 1 min. Paramedics attend home, find Lexi deeply unconscious. Lexi revived and admitted to hospital. Thought she may have had a viral respiratory tract infection.

Jan 4th to 8th – LP sends indecent images of herself from hospital toilets for money.

Jan 8th

Lexi discharged with antibiotics.

LP’s phone searches - can you die if blocked nose and forcibly closed mouth?

Jan 9th

LP moves to Beechwood Court.

Jan 14th

Afternoon - LP goes out with children and sister and her children. All well.

7 pm – LP returns home with her children/on CCTV.

9 pm – LP will tell paramedics called later that night that she bathed Lexi and put her to bed.

10.30 pm – LP sends whatsapp – refers to having a tough time with Lexi being ill from deadly flu. Doctors are telling her Lexi is going to die.

10.33 pm – 11.15 pm LP phone searches about bodily signs of death and how long after drowning can a person be resuscitated.

Jan 15th

12.50 am - LP’s sister calls her.

12.51 am - LP calls 999 – Lexi unconscious / not breathing. Medics arrive and find Lexi dead and in rigor mortis. Medics thought LP was detached and unemotional.

LP sees a man in Rugby and tells him ‘only me and this one left now’ (referring to Scarlett).

LP visiting website for models/photographers.

LP posts message on FB “Mummy loves you. Can’t believe you are gone”

Jan 17th

LP’s sister talks to her about being emotionless and heartless. LP replies ‘I’m not coping as well as you think. It’s just a front’.

Jan 29th

LP moves into the Rugby Hotel.

Jan 30th

LP attends funeral home with her sister and Scarlett to arrange Lexi’s funeral. When left alone she is laughing on her phone.

Feb 1st

LP is texting with a man about having his baby and contraception.

7.30 pm to 9.50 pm LP messages various people about possibility of losing Scarlett and concerns about Scarlett being asleep.

9.37 pm LP messages someone that she is going to take Scarlett to hospital in a bit because she has slept twice that day. Says she and Scarlett have had flu and she needs their support if this goes bad. ‘Can’t deal with this alone again’

9.50 pm CCTV at hotel shows LP carrying Scarlett. She puts her in the car and drives off to get petrol before going to Elliott’s Field retail park.

10.20 pm - LP calls 111 from her car in retail park saying she is heading to hospital but she wants to double check with them first. Says she is worried because Scarlett is sleeping. Operator asks her to wake Scarlett, she says she can’t. Then says she thinks Scarlett isn’t breathing and has no pulse.

A security guard at the retail park sees no signs of distress from woman in car.

10.30 pm – first medic arrives. No panicked response from LP as he expected. Scarlett in driver’s seat reclined. No chest movements or breath. Gave oxygen and chest compressions. Ambulance arrived – paramedic says Scarlett freezing and lifeless, deprived of oxygen for some time. LP calm and no emotion.

11.31 pm Scarlett pronounced dead at hospital.

Hours afterwards LP posts an image of Lexi and Scarlett on Snapchat with message RIP.

Subsequent post mortems on Lexi and Scarlett find no natural causes of death. Lexi’s death consistent with asphyxia or suffocation. Scarlett bleeding in soft tissue of neck consistent with compression.

Mar 20th

LP arrested on suspicion of murder.


2019

Jan 29th

LP re-interviewed and charged with murder.

Mar 4th

Court hears LP is pregnant - baby due late summer?

 

[Tortoise]

She's not showing up in the court listings even though it was scheduled to start at 10.30 today.

 

[Legally Bland]

Was looking for updates and saw this at the bottom of an article from yesterday:
_______________

The trial will resume on Thursday.

Mum accused of murdering two kids 'calm and emotionless' after murder

 

[Tortoise]

Thank you Legally.

 

[Kasmeer]

Ugh. Some of that, specifically the emotionlessness, and the driving around instead of going straight to hospital, made me wonder about the possibility of some learning difficulty or mental condition that means she can't fully appreciate the seriousness of the situation. I don't like to believe that people can be so evil, so tend to try to find alternative explanations, rather than jumping straight to callous murder. But the whole of the timeline makes me think that's not that plausible an explanation for her behaviour, and certainly not for the deaths of her children