Medical professionals immediately suspected non-accidental injuries in dying toddler, murder trial hears

A murder trial has been informed that medical personnel attending to a critically ill young boy promptly harbored suspicions regarding head bruising. Teesside Crown Court was told that Charlie Roberts, aged 22 months, collapsed at his Darlington residence in January and subsequently passed away in hospital the next day. Christopher Stockton, 38, the partner of Charlie’s mother, has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and child cruelty. Concurrently, Charlie’s mother, Paula Roberts, 41, denies child neglect. The court heard that Mr. Stockton informed paramedics Charlie had choked; however, head scans subsequently showed significant brain injuries. Earlier in the trial, testimony indicated that friends, family members, and nursery staff had observed bruises on Charlie on several occasions in the months preceding his death. The court was informed that on the morning of 12 January, Mr. Stockton contacted 999 to report the toddler’s collapse, a call made just 18 minutes after Charlie had been placed solely in his care. Charlie was transported to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, where, according to court proceedings, medical professionals immediately suspected his injuries were non-accidental. Dr. Victoria Thomas, a consultant paediatrician, stated that Charlie experienced a cardiac arrest at his Frosterley Drive home, and by that afternoon, “it was clear he wasn’t going to survive his injuries,” leading to his death the subsequent day. She further testified that upon Charlie’s arrival at the hospital, medical staff promptly harbored “significant concerns” and were “very worried somebody had harmed Charlie.” Specifically, Dr. Thomas noted a severe bruise on Charlie’s left ear, an area of the body she described as “extremely unlikely” to have been injured accidentally. “It raised very significant concern of deliberate injury,” she stated. Dr. Thomas reported that scans indicated severe bleeding in Charlie’s brain and eyes, which she characterized as a “strong marker for non-accidental injury.” She explained that the “most likely” cause of the fatal brain bleed was an “inflicted injury,” adding that the only other instances she had observed such injuries in non-accidental cases were in “high speed” car crashes. Earlier testimony in the trial revealed that Mr. Stockton and Ms. Roberts had commenced a relationship in January 2023, and he had moved into her residence just days prior to the alleged attack. The court was informed that Mr. Stockton had remained awake until 05:00 GMT on 12 January, engaged in playing video games and watching television. Ms. Roberts departed her home for an optician appointment around 08:45, and Mr. Stockton placed the call to emergency services shortly after 09:00. The judicial proceedings are ongoing.