A former nursery employee accused of murdering her two-year-old daughter instructed a pal she couldn’t name police because the kid’s physique had bruises and “we are going to get executed for it”, a court docket heard.
Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell and her then boyfriend Scott Jeff, each aged 24 and of no fastened deal with, each deny murdering her daughter Isabella Wheildon between 26 and 30 June 2023.
Police discovered the toddler lifeless in a locked toilet at a brief housing unit in Sidegate Lane, Ipswich, on 30 June 2023.
Giving proof at Ipswich Crown Court docket on Wednesday, Gleason-Mitchell’s pal, Joanne Gardner, described her as a “very nice woman, all the way down to earth”.
She mentioned they met at short-term lodging at Sandy, in Bedfordshire, when Miss Gardner arrived there in July 2021.
Miss Gardner mentioned Gleason-Mitchell was in a relationship with Isabella’s father on the time.
“I could not fault them – they have been sensible dad and mom, they liked her to bits,” Miss Gardner mentioned.
She mentioned Gleason-Mitchell messaged her in Could 2023 to say she and Thomas Wheildon have been now not collectively and had later requested for £60 as she and her daughter had nowhere to remain.
Gleason-Mitchell, whose household house was within the Biggleswade space of Bedfordshire, mentioned in a message she was in Nice Yarmouth looking for someplace to stay, however the council instructed her she was secure to return to Bedfordshire.
Jurors heard in a subsequent dialog between the pair, Gleason-Mitchell “instructed me that Isabella was lifeless”.
In a message learn to the court docket, Gleason-Mitchell mentioned: “We will not name police as she developed bruises, and we are going to get executed for it.”
Miss Gardner mentioned Gleason-Mitchell “was attempting to inform me Thomas was not Isabella’s dad – it was Scott, the brand new boyfriend I did not know”.
Gleason-Mitchell despatched a collection of voice notes, with one saying: “We actually cannot go to the police as a result of she’s lined in bruises.”
In an additional message, Gleason-Mitchell instructed Miss Gardner: “I really feel like we’re simply going to bury her and hope for one of the best.”
Miss Gardner mentioned Gleason-Mitchell requested her to delete the messages and gave the “impression the police have been there”.
Miss Gardner known as social providers at round 10:50 BST on 30 June final 12 months after which dialled 999 at 11:07 the identical day to report her considerations, jurors heard in an agreed reality.
Alex Kettle-Williams, prosecuting, mentioned police attended the short-term housing unit at 13:07.
She mentioned Miss Gardner had reported to police that Gleason-Mitchell had “instructed her that her daughter had died three days in the past and was nonetheless in her pushchair”.
On visiting, the police discovered the flat empty and the lavatory door locked, and an officer then famous a “robust stale scent and a pushchair with a number of blankets over it pushed into the bathe”.
“When he eliminated the final blanket, he noticed the face of a younger youngster,” she mentioned.
Jeff denies one depend of inflicting or permitting the dying of a kid and two counts of kid cruelty.
Jurors have been beforehand instructed Gleason-Mitchell had admitted to inflicting or permitting the dying of a kid and two counts of kid cruelty.
Sasha Wass KC, for Gleason-Mitchell, requested Miss Gardner if Gleason-Mitchell was “someone who could possibly be bullied”, and she or he replied “sure”.
Christopher Paxton KC, for Jeff, requested Miss Gardner: “If you do not know Scott Jeff, you do not know something about his character, do you?”
She replied: “No, I do not.”
The trial continues.