A court was informed that the mother of a seriously ill two-year-old girl, Isabelle Welsh, delayed calling emergency services when her daughter was dying after suffering sexual and physical abuse. Isabelle was discovered with 21 broken bones before her death last September at her residence in Thornaby, Teesside. Alexandra Walker, 25, and her boyfriend Harrison Simpson, 22, are facing charges of murder, sexual assault, child cruelty, and allowing the death of a child.
According to the prosecution, the night before Isabelle’s fatal head injury, Walker and Simpson were drinking and using cannabis. While Walker remained in bed the next morning, Simpson was the sole caregiver for the toddler. Simpson left the house around 3pm, and shortly after, Walker searched online for information about toddler bleeding. Despite the severity of Isabelle’s condition, Walker did not take immediate action.
Around an hour after Simpson departed, Walker contacted her stepfather, who arrived and advised her to call emergency services. Isabelle was rushed to the hospital but tragically passed away. Walker initially attributed Isabelle’s broken tibia to an accidental incident, but later admitted that Simpson had been abusing her daughter.
During police interviews, Simpson remained silent, while Walker’s statements were deemed untruthful. The prosecution alleges that both individuals were aware of the ongoing abuse suffered by Isabelle, indicating a pattern of violence over time. The trial is ongoing.