Babysitter cleared of murder

A jury of eight men and four women took just under four hours to clear 37-year-old Lynn Jeffrey.

A post mortem revealed that baby Courtney Ann Shailes had died from multiple fractures to the skull, which had brain tissue protruding through into her scalp, the court was told.

The injuries were consistent with the victim being swung round by her legs and her head being thrown into a flat surface.

The fractures were so severe that they were similar to those of a road traffic accident victim being thrown from a car at high speed.

Jeffrey, 37, of Bird Street, Brierfield, Nelson, denied carrying out a "brutal, callous and inexplicable" murder.

She claimed her fellow babysitter, ex-boyfriend Andrew Elliott, inflicted the fatal injuries and pressured her into giving a false account that the child accidentally fell down the stairs.

Jeffrey and Mr Elliott were asked in a pub by Courtney's mother to mind the child on August 23 last year.

Later that night the youngster was taken to Burnley General Hospital with severe head injuries while in their care and was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

The prosecution said Jeffrey was blaming Mr Elliott in a bid to avoid the consequences of her "terrible actions".

Jeffrey told police that the child had fallen down the stairs but later changed her account after she alleged that Mr Elliott had threatened to harm herself and her family.

Giving evidence for the prosecution, Mr Elliott said he left the house for 10 minutes to go to the shop and when he returned the child was motionless at the bottom of the stairs.

Mr Elliott admitted he had a violent past fuelled by drink and the court was told he had a previous conviction for assault in which he admitted throwing his ex partner's head against a wall.

Jeffrey told the court that she came out of the toilet at the home to see Mr Elliott swing the child around by its legs, swing her across the wall and throw her down the stairs.

Outside court the legal team representing Jeffrey issued a statement on behalf of their client.

Solicitor Mark Irlam said: "My client bitterly regrets not telling the truth to the police when she was interviewed about this tragic case.

"Miss Jeffrey wishes to express her deepest sympathy for the parents and family of Courtney Ann Shailes.

"This is the only comment she wishes to make."

Courtney's mother Samantha, 26, wept as the foreman read out the verdict and then left the court without comment.

The officer leading the inquiry, Detective Inspector Peter Broome, said: "While I am disappointed by the verdict I am grateful that all the facts of this terrible case have been put before this jury.

"They heard full and harrowing details of the injuries which led to Courtney's death and deliberated long and hard before reaching a verdict today.

"My thoughts and those of the investigation team are very much with Courtney's family, particularly her mother Samantha and father Lee who were so tragically bereaved on that night."

He added that he would be meeting representatives of the Crown Prosecution Service to review the evidence with a view to determine if any more progress could be made with the case.