Mum told friend 'we will get done', murder trial hears

A erstwhile nursery idiosyncratic accused of murdering her two-year-old girl told a person she could not telephone constabulary arsenic the child's assemblage had bruises and "we volition get done for it", a tribunal heard.

Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell and her past fellow Scott Jeff, some aged 24 and of nary fixed address, some contradict murdering her girl Isabella Wheildon betwixt 26 and 30 June 2023.

Police recovered the toddler dormant successful a locked bath astatine a impermanent lodging portion successful Sidegate Lane, Ipswich, connected 30 June 2023.

Giving grounds astatine Ipswich Crown Court connected Wednesday, Gleason-Mitchell's friend, Joanne Gardner, described her arsenic a "really bully girl, down to earth".

She said they met astatine impermanent accommodation astatine Sandy, successful Bedfordshire, erstwhile Miss Gardner arrived determination successful July 2021.

Miss Gardner said Gleason-Mitchell was successful a narration with Isabella's begetter astatine the time.

"I couldn't responsibility them - they were superb parents, they loved her to bits," Miss Gardner said.

She said Gleason-Mitchell messaged her successful May 2023 to accidental she and Thomas Wheildon were nary longer unneurotic and had aboriginal asked for £60 arsenic she and her girl had obscurity to stay.

Gleason-Mitchell, whose household location was successful the Biggleswade country of Bedfordshire, said successful a connection she was successful Great Yarmouth trying to find determination to live, but the assembly told her she was harmless to instrumentality to Bedfordshire.

Jurors heard successful a consequent speech betwixt the pair, Gleason-Mitchell "told maine that Isabella was dead".

In a connection work to the court, Gleason-Mitchell said: "We can't telephone constabulary arsenic she developed bruises, and we volition get done for it."

Miss Gardner said Gleason-Mitchell "was trying to archer maine Thomas was not Isabella's dada - it was Scott, the caller fellow I didn't know".

Gleason-Mitchell sent a bid of dependable notes, with 1 saying: "We virtually can't spell to the constabulary due to the fact that she's covered successful bruises."

In a further message, Gleason-Mitchell told Miss Gardner: "I consciousness similar we're conscionable going to hide her and anticipation for the best."

Miss Gardner said Gleason-Mitchell asked her to delete the messages and gave the "impression the constabulary were there".

Miss Gardner called societal services astatine astir 10:50 BST connected 30 June past twelvemonth and past dialled 999 astatine 11:07 the aforesaid time to study her concerns, jurors heard successful an agreed fact.

Alex Kettle-Williams, prosecuting, said constabulary attended the impermanent lodging portion astatine 13:07.

She said Miss Gardner had reported to constabulary that Gleason-Mitchell had "told her that her girl had died 3 days agone and was inactive successful her pushchair".

On visiting, the constabulary recovered the level bare and the bath doorway locked, and an serviceman past noted a "strong stale odor and a pushchair with respective blankets implicit it pushed into the shower".

"When helium removed the past blanket, helium saw the look of a young child," she said.

Jeff denies 1 number of causing oregon allowing the decease of a kid and 2 counts of kid cruelty.

Jurors were antecedently told Gleason-Mitchell had admitted to causing oregon allowing the decease of a kid and 2 counts of kid cruelty.

Sasha Wass KC, for Gleason-Mitchell, asked Miss Gardner if Gleason-Mitchell was "somebody who could beryllium bullied", and she replied "yes".

Christopher Paxton KC, for Jeff, asked Miss Gardner: "If you don't cognize Scott Jeff, you don't cognize thing astir his character, bash you?"

She replied: "No, I don't."

The proceedings continues.