Telford baby murder trial hears of pair's cash worries
A married couple accused of the murder of their 11-month-old baby boy were under "significant tension" financially around the time of his death, a court heard.
Paul Thomas was significantly overdrawn at the bank and had been for months and his wife Ashlea Thomas was in arrears with the rent at their home in Telford, a jury at Birmingham Crown Court was told.
The couple are accused of killing their son Oliver Sargent, who died on July 31, 2012, a few days after ambulance crews were called to the family home in St Georges because he had stopped breathing.
Scans while in hospital revealed Oliver had injuries including bleeding on the brain and eyes.
X-rays also showed fractures to his skull, ribs and collarbone, the court heard.
The couple deny causing their son any harm, and Paul Thomas told police after the pair were arrested they "lived happily" as a family at the home in Priory Way.
But Mr Andrew Smith, prosecuting, said just a couple of hours before Oliver's collapse, Paul Thomas had phoned his bank asking to extend his overdraft to £1,500.
He had been permanently overdrawn since May that year, the jury was told.
"Tensions relating to finance must have been building for both defendants," Mr Smith said.
He said shortly after Paul Thomas' call, Ashlea Thomas called her bank asking to cancel a direct debit for Bromford Housing to pay the rent. Records revealed she was in arrears.
Mr Smith said: "You may wish to consider whether this call is further evidence of significant tension within the home concerning finance, just moments before Oliver's collapse."
Opening the case yesterday, Mr Smith said all of the medical evidence suggested the fractures suffered by Oliver required a "degree of force beyond normal handling".
"An underlying medical condition can be excluded as forming any part of an explanation for Oliver's injuries," Mr Smith told the court.
"It remains the view of mainstream medical opinion that Oliver's injuries were caused by non-accidental trauma or damage, which may or may not have included shaking. "The obvious conclusion is Oliver suffered serial abusive injuries, leading to the fatal head injuries on July 27.
"What is certain is they were both in the house and neither has offered a reasonable explanation for Oliver's collapse."
Paul Thomas, 29, and Ashlea Thomas, 20, who worked at Trench Tots Day Nursery in Gibbons Road, Trench, both deny murder.
The trial continues.
