Ayeeshia Jane Smith was heard saying 'stop mummy, stop daddy' just days before she was allegedly stamped to death by one of her parents, a court he
The 21-month-old girl believed to have been stamped to death by one of her parents was so badly injured she resembled a car crash victim, a court heard today.
Ayeeshia Jane Smith was heard saying 'stop mummy, stop daddy' just days before she was killed by her mum, Kathryn Smith, and her partner, Matthew Rigby, jurorswere told.
She died at her Staffordshire home from a laceration to her heart after what could have been a 'forceful' foot stamp to her chest triggered a cardiac arrest, a post-mortem found.
Today, a pathologist described in court how the toddler's harrowing injuries were akin to those he would expect to find on the victim of a road traffic collision.
Dr Alexander Kolar, who conducted Ayeeshia's post-mortem, said it would have taken just a minute for the little girl to collapse following her heart laceration.
He told Birmingham Crown Court the youngster also suffered three fractured ribs as a result of the 'blunt force trauma' at her home in Stretton, Burton-upon-Trent, on May 1, 2014.
He added that she had 16 external injuries, including bruises to her back, and both of her lungs had haemorrhaged.
"The colour of these bruises indicate that there had been at least 24 hours between injury and death," said Dr Kolar told the court.
When asked what sort of degree of force would be used to inflict this injury, the pathologist replied: "More than trivial forces have been used.
"It is blunt force trauma using reasonable severe force."
"I would expect these sorts of injuries to occur from severe trauma to the chest or torso similar to that of a victim of a road traffic collision or a fall from a height," the pathologist added.
He said the chest injuries were as a result of a very heavy impact or impacts to the body which 'could have been as a result of stamping'.
Smith, 23, and Rigby, 22, both deny murdering Ayeeshia at their home.
During today's hearing, the jury heard how the youngster's rib fractures were two-thirds of the way down her body to the rear and could not have been caused by resuscitation attempts.
Dr Kolar added: "She had been subjected to a very significant trauma to the rear of her body resulting in a fatal chest injury. It was non-accidental."
The court had previously heard how the child was heard saying 'stop mummy, stop daddy' just days before her death.
She had only been returned to Smith six months before her alleged murder, having previously been taken into care by social services.
Jurors were also told how consultant paediatrician Dr Tholooparampi Samuel examined Ayeeshia's body at the hospital following her death.
They heard that in his report he noted eight unexplained bruises, on the toddler's legs and back, including one on the back measuring 12 cms in height.
Smith and Rigby, both from Nottingham, also deny causing or allowing the death of a child and cruelty to a child.
The trial continues.
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