Nine-year-old boy died after being 'whipped and held in bath by mum and partner'

Last year in February, a court was informed that a nine-year-old boy named Alfie Steele had been fatally beaten by his mother and her partner. The tragic incident occurred at their family home in Droitwich, Worcestershire. 
According to reports, the child had been subjected to a brutal punishment that involved being immersed in cold water and whipped with belts. Alfie was found at the family home and subsequently taken to Worcester Royal Hospital, where he later passed away.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that the young victim, Alfie Steele, had suffered from months of abuse and a disturbingly harsh punishment routine inflicted by his mother, Carla Scott, aged 35, and her partner, Dirk Howell, aged 41. 
Alfie's body had been discovered with over 50 injuries that had been inflicted with "direct pressure," leaving him at risk of drowning while unconscious. The injuries had been sustained all over his body, indicating the severity and extent of the abuse he had been subjected to.

Jurors were told the pair also thought it was acceptable to hit Alfie with “belts, or a slider, like a heavy-duty flip flop, and use other more sinister forms of punishment.”

At Coventry Crown Court on Tuesday, Carla Scott and Dirk Howell faced trial for murder and causing or permitting the death of a child, in relation to the tragic death of nine-year-old Alfie Steele. During the opening of the trial, Michelle Heeley KC stated that the case centered around Alfie's murder, which occurred as a result of him being beaten and intentionally placed in a cold bath.

“The people we say are responsible for killing Alfie and inflicting cruelty on him are his mother, Carla Scott, and her partner, Dirk Howell.”
Heeley said Alfie had not “simply fallen asleep in a comfortable bath”.

“He had been deliberately and repeatedly assaulted, beaten, and put into and held under a cold bath as a punishment, and that unlawful course of conduct, that unnecessary punishment, was carried out jointly by Carla Scott and Dirk Howell. “It was their actions that led to his death.”

Michelle Heeley KC went on to explain during the trial that at around 2:30 PM on the day of Alfie's death, his mother, Carla Scott, had made a call to emergency services. During the call, Scott had requested an ambulance, stating that her son had fallen asleep in the bath and had gone under the surface. Scott had further explained that she had taken Alfie out of the bath and was attempting to resuscitate him, as he was not breathing at the time.
 
Michelle Heeley KC informed the jury that during the trial, evidence will be presented to suggest that both Dirk Howell and Carla Scott believed that it was acceptable to physically abuse Alfie, including using belts to beat him.

Heeley added neighbors had also witnessed Howell’s aggressive nature towards Alfie, watching him shout at the nine-year-old in the street.

Heeley added: “Carla Scott stood by and let it happen. She put her loyalty to her partner.”

The jury heard when police arrived at the scene at Vashon Drive , Droitwich, officers noted that Alfie was lifeless already.

Heeley said: “He was not breathing and he was cold to the touch, so already cold just 6 minutes (after Carla Scott made a 999 call).

“She (Scott) told the police she had last seen him (Howell) a couple of days ago.

“That was a lie. In the first moments when her child was dead her first thought was to lie.

“Carla Scott’s pretense that Mr. Howell had not been at the house but was coming over then was a lie. He had been at the house since the previous night, and Carla Scott lied to police to protect him.”

Michelle Heeley KC informed the jury that based on medical and other evidence, it will become clear during the trial that Alfie's death was the result of an "unlawful act" committed by either one or both of the defendants, Dirk Howell and Carla Scott.

Michelle Heeley KC went on to emphasize that Alfie did not die from natural causes, but rather from injuries sustained due to physical abuse. The child had multiple bruises all over his body, and evidence suggested that he had been deprived of oxygen. 

Heeley explained that the extent and number of Alfie's injuries indicated that they were predominantly inflicted, i.e., caused by another person. In terms of the timeline of these injuries, it was challenging to determine their age accurately. However, evidence will be presented in court to support the claim that some of the bruises were several days old, while others were more recent.

Michelle Heeley KC stated during the trial that the prosecution expects both Carla Scott and Dirk Howell to deny any responsibility for Alfie's death. However, she argued that based on the evidence, their claims do not hold up. 

The prosecution contends that both defendants physically assaulted Alfie, which ultimately led to his death. Therefore, according to Heeley, Alfie died as a direct result of the intentional and illegal actions committed by Carla Scott and Dirk Howell. As a result, they are both guilty of murder.

Dirk Howell, who is from Newton, Birmingham, has admitted to committing child cruelty against other children but has denied the charges of murder, manslaughter, cruelty, or causing or allowing the death of Alfie. On the other hand, Carla Scott, who is from Droitwich, has denied all charges against her, including murder, manslaughter, causing or allowing the death of Alfie, and child cruelty offenses against Alfie and other children.

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