Parents remanded on child cruelty charge after death of baby boy

By The Press Association2nd August 2016News EnglandBristol, Child Abuse, Childrens Services, Courts / Justice, Gloucestershire, News England

The parents of a baby boy who died in hospital have appeared in court accused of child cruelty.

Hannah Henry, 20, and Alistair Walker, 26, faced magistrates charged in connection with the death of three-month-old Ah’kiell Walker.

Ah’kiell died at Bristol Children’s Hospital on Sunday evening, having been rushed to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital on July 30 by ambulance following an incident at his home in Archdeacon Street, Gloucester.

Henry and Walker were initially arrested on suspicion of attempted murder but were then re-arrested on suspicion of murder following Ah’kiell’s death.

They were later charged with child cruelty and made separate appearances at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court.

Henry, who appeared tearful, and Walker, both of Archdeacon Street, spoke only to confirm their names, dates of birth and addresses.

They did not enter pleas to the single charge they each face, which alleges they “wilfully assaulted, ill-treated, neglected, abandoned or exposed” Ah’kiell to child cruelty.

Mary Aquilina, prosecuting, said a post-mortem examination was due to be carried out on Tuesday and further charges against the two defendants could follow.

JPs remanded the pair into custody after rejecting bail applications made by their legal representatives.

Chairman of the bench Steve Chandler said: “Clearly these are very serious charges and we have decided to decline jurisdiction in this case and it will be transferred to Gloucester Crown Court on September 2.”