A FATHER has gone on trial at Carlisle Crown Court accused of murdering his baby son while the mother is accused of allowing the child’s death.
Reece Martin Kelly, 31, appeared before a High Court judge at Carlisle Crown Court, having earlier entered not guilty pleas to the allegations he faces.
He is accused of murdering four-month-old Dallas Kelly. Prosecutors allege this happened in Workington on October 19, 2021.
The defendant, formerly of Hunday Court, Workington, is also charged with causing unnecessary suffering to the same child between May 23, 2021, and October 15, 2021.
The charge says that he “deliberately or recklessly ill-treated or neglected” Dallas Kelly, in a way likely to cause suffering injury by failing to take him to medical appointments and failing to provide adequate parental supervision or medical care and exposing the child to harmful substances.
At an earlier hearing, Dallas's mother Georgia Wright, 23, from Workington, formally denied "causing or allowing the death of a child", Dallas Kelly. Prosecutors say she failed to protect him from risk she ought to have foreseen.
She also pleaded not guilty to causing cruelty to Dallas.
The details of that charge, relating to events between May 23, 2021, and October 15 that year, include an alleged failure of adequate parental supervision, failing to take the child to medical appointments, and exposing him to harmful substances.
At the crown court today, Mr Justice Dove addressed the jury of ten men and two women who are due to hear evidence in the case over the next three to five weeks. He told them that the criminal justice system depends upon people like them.
He the went on to explain the respective roles that will be performed by both himself and by the jury during the trial. Mr Justice Dove said: “What is my role? It will come as no surprise to appreciate that my role is judge of the law in this case.”
He was also responsible for ensuring “fair play,” he said.
The jury would be given instructions which will allow them to reach lawful verdicts. Addressing the jury’s role, the judge said: “You are the judge of the facts; you are the people who will reach factual conclusions in this case which enable you to arrive at verdicts.”
The judge warned the jury to not undertake any independent research of the case and to assess the case from the material put before the court and nothing else.
They should behave with the same impartiality that is expected of the judge.
“This case concerns the death of a baby,” continued Mr Justice Dove. “You will judge this case dispassionately and without emotion, bringing your objective judgement to bear on the facts when you come to consider your verdicts.”
Prosecutor Richard Littler KC is expected to open the case to the jury tomorrow. Neither defendant spoke during the hearing today.
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