Barnsley woman faces criminal charges as inquest hears her baby girl died while she was on cocaine

A mom who threw as many as 9 home events days after her child woman died sleeping in the identical mattress as her whereas she was on cocaine might face a manslaughter cost, an inquest heard.

Keira-Mae Jones was born 5lb 5oz within the early hours of Might 14, 2020 at Barnsley Hospital after being induced, Sheffield Coroners Courtroom was informed yesterday. 

Her mom Amy Jones, 32, was taking opioid-based painkillers whereas anticipating Keira-Mae, so the kid needed to be saved within the hospital for as much as 5 days to observe if she was affected by withdrawal signs.

The kid was simply two days outdated when she suffered catastrophic mind harm and was discovered face down on her mom’s mattress within the hospital’s neonatal ward. 

Medical doctors determined to show off her life help off on the Jessop Wing in Sheffield Instructing Hospital – the place she had been transferred – 16 weeks later after makes an attempt to resuscitate her failed.

Keira-Might had been set to be topic to an interim care order, the place a toddler is faraway from their mother and father’ care and fostered.

Amy Jones, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, was arrested on suspicion of ‘felony overlay’ for taking the little woman to mattress whereas beneath the affect of drugs on the time. 

She had denied she was on medicine hours earlier than her daughter died, however mentioned somebody on cocaine might take care of a child because it ‘makes you extra alert’. 

Keira-Mae’s father and Amy’s husband Alex Jones, 38, additionally from Barnsley, was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice, however the pair have been each later launched with none additional motion.  

A neighbour claimed she noticed Amy throwing as many as 9 home events and consuming with buddies within the days following the kid’s loss of life – and in the course of the top of the pandemic, Yorkshire Dwell reviews.

Senior coroner David Urpeth dominated yesterday that the little woman had died as a consequence of ‘the illegal act of the mom’, including he was ‘shocked’ costs hadn’t been introduced in opposition to her and he would enchantment to the CPS to ‘re-assess’ their determination.

Mr Urpeth mentioned: ‘I discover the loss of life of Keira-Mae Jones was as a result of illegal act of the mom.

‘I’m happy that the discovering of reason behind loss of life on this case on the stability of likelihood is illegal killing.

‘I’m shocked the CPS didn’t authorise costs on this tragic case. I’d ask this case be referred again to the CPS to reassess their determination.’

The inquest heard from the mom’s subsequent door neighbour, who mentioned that she approached Amy within the days after Keira-Might was placed on life help. 

The neighbour informed the courtroom she was ‘mortified’ when Amy informed her ‘I’ve suffocated her, I did it’.

The courtroom was informed that Amy and Alex would usually throw home events, which have been reported to police within the days following Keira-Mae’s loss of life.

The neighbour mentioned: ‘I believe the actions after Keira’s loss of life states the whole lot. These have been home events, Mrs Jones had buddies spherical.’

She added: ‘This was throughout a pandemic too, so it was unlawful. It’s simply not what you anticipate.’ 

Throughout the inquest, Jones was requested why blood samples taken from her lower than two hours after the incident returned proof of cocaine use.

This adopted testimony from forensic toxicologist Dr Diane Garside that confirmed the medicine have been almost definitely used on the day of the incident.

Mr Urpeth particularly requested Jones if she’d taken cocaine and if her companion had supplied her with urine to keep away from a optimistic medicine check, to which she replied ‘no’.

However when he requested her if somebody might take care of a toddler whereas on cocaine, Jones mentioned: ‘Sure. Cocaine makes you extra alert.’

She later added: ‘I’m not saying it’s proper, [but] sure, you may.’

A senior midwife who cared for Amy Jones, Joanne Posket, informed the courtroom Amy appeared optimistic and talkative on the day after Keira-Mae’s delivery.

Nonetheless, she mentioned she was destructive and irritable on the day of the incident after arguing along with her companion about her 16 canines doubtlessly being taken away from her.

This behaviour change was described as ‘erratic’ in a number of witness statements from workers on the ward.

In his discovering, Mr Urpeth mentioned he believed this temper swing was attributable to substance abuse, however Jones denied this. 

At round 6pm on Might 16, 2020, Amy claims she took Keira-Mae to mattress to feed her.

She mentioned her ‘subsequent reminiscence’ was waking up at 8pm, the place she discovered Keira-Mae face down on the mattress.

Medics rushed to avoid wasting Keira-Mae’s life and have been initially capable of resuscitate her.

In the meantime, Amy Jones reportedly gathered her belongings in a provider bag, wrote a notice apologising to Keira-Mae that she was ‘higher off with out me’.

She then met up with Alex within the automotive park of the hospital, who satisfied her to return inside.

By this time, Keira-Mae was being ready for switch to the one other ward, the place she would spend the remainder of her quick life on life help with ‘catastrophic’ mind harm.

A blood pattern taken from Amy lower than two hours after the incident confirmed by-products of cocaine use. A urine pattern was additionally taken.

South Yorkshire Police DS Julie Thorpe mentioned the choice to arrest Amy and Alex Jones got here eight hours after the incident when officers reviewed bodycam footage of her manner.

DS Thorpe mentioned: ‘My instant thought once I noticed the footage was this feminine is clearly beneath the affect of drugs and we have to find her and arrest her.’

Alex was additionally arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice on Might 16, 2020, and through preliminary police enquiries, a urine pattern pot from the hospital was present in his automotive.

The coroner requested DS Thorpe why Alex had claimed to have the urine pot.

DS Thorpe replied: ‘He claimed he needed it as a result of he needed to take it for screening at a sexual well being clinic.’

The coroner added: ‘What did you consider that as a proof?’

DS Thorpe mentioned: ‘Nonsense.’

In subsequent police interviews, Amy denied utilizing cocaine in hospital. She believed she had fallen asleep and squashed her child and he or she hadn’t taken any medicine.

The couple have been bailed on Might 20, 2020, and out of doors of additional interviews, no motion was taken.

In his ruling, Mr Urpeth mentioned: ‘It’s the discovering of the skilled officer Thorpe that the mom was ‘clearly intoxicated’.

‘I discover as a reality there have been materials, dramatic modifications in her behaviour on Might 16 and these point out intoxication.

‘Subsequently, taking each of those into consideration, I discover on stability of likelihood the almost definitely time the cocaine was taken was in hospital on Might 16.

‘I discover on stability of likelihood that Amy was not match to take care of a child as a consequence of her drug intoxication.

‘The illegal act of the mom straight led to Keira’s loss of life.

‘That’s somebody who might and will have supplied safety and take care of Keira-Mae. It’s a tragedy that she didn’t.

‘Subsequently I’ve to succeed in a conclusion and I’m happy on stability of likelihood the suitable conclusion to document on this case is illegal killing.’

Amy, who was current to present proof, left earlier than the ruling was full.

This put up first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk