Yelverton mother on trial over son's death

ALFIE HAD 70 VISIBLE INJURIES WHEN HE DIED AGED 18 MONTHS

- ANAHITA HOSSEIN-POUR

AN 18-month-old boy died after “aggressive, violent discipline” at the hands of his Devon mother and her former partner fuelled by drugs and drink, leaving him with 70 visible injuries and bruises, a court has heard.

Alfie Philips died on November 28 2020 with a “myriad of bruises” and marks including fractures to his ribs, arms and leg, and signs of smothering to his lips and mouth, Maidstone Crown Court heard on Wednesday.

His mother Sian Hedges, 27, of Yelverton, and her partner at the time Jack Benham, 35, are on trial at Maidstone Crown Court for his murder, which allegedly happened overnight at Benham’s caravan in Hernhill, near Faversham, Kent.

Hedges, wearing a black jacket and grey shirt, cried when listening to the prosecution outline Alfie’s injuries.

On Tuesday, the court heard how traces of cocaine were found in Alfie’s blood and urine samples, and doctors examining Alfie suggested it could have been passive inhalation of crack cocaine or from external contact with the drug.