A five-year-old boy was killed by his stepfather because he was jealous of the attention he received from his mother, a court has heard.
Tyler Whelan died in March last year after collapsing at his home in Sheepwalk, Paston, near Peterborough.
His stepfather,
Elvis Lee, 34, of Crabtree, Paston, Peterborough, has admitted manslaughter on March 7 but denies murder.
Mr Lee had a history of violence and was attending anger management courses.
[...]
The fatal injuries occured when Tyler's mother, Stephanie Whelan, was taking his older sister to school.
Prosecutor Christopher Donnellan told Cambridge Crown Court that
the boy had suffered 'non-accidental' injuries including a broken leg and injuries to his penis in the year leading up to his death.
The jury was told
Mr Lee hurt Tyler because he had interrupted his sleep, or he because he was jealous of the attention the boy received.
Stephanie Whelan, Tyler’s mother, denies causing or allowing a child’s death.
Mr Donnellan said that
on the day of his death Tyler was covered in severe bruises after he was kicked, hit and bitten by Lee.
'It would have been apparent to her that he had been harmed several hours before he was taken to hospital,' Mr Donnellan added.
Doctors were so concerned about an incident in June the previous year in which Tyler suffered a broken leg that they contacted social services, Mr Donnellan said.
It was later decided no intervention was required.
Mr Donnellan told jurors that Whelan knew Lee was capable of violence as she had herself suffered a series of attacks.
[...]
Mr Donnellan added: 'He died from a number of injuries which he suffered a few hours before he was taken to hospital.
'These included a blunt force trauma to the head and a blunt force trauma to the abdomen. Only two adults were responsible for his care that morning.
'Mr Lee, from his plea of guilty to manslaughter, accepts he caused those injuries.'
Lee, 34, of Crabtree, Paston, and Whelan, 27, of Sheepwalk, Paston, originally from Wigan, both deny three further counts of cruelty, relating to their alleged failure to quickly seek medical treatment for earlier injuries.
The case continues at Cambridge Crown Court
Bookmarks