Droitwich mum and partner guilty of killing boy, 9, in bath
Carla Scott, Alfie's mum, was found guilty of manslaughter and her partner Dirk Howell guilty of murder
Last updated 13th Jun 2023
A Droitwich mum has been found guilty of manslaughter and her son was found dead in a bath at the family home.
The jury found her boyfriend guilty of murder, with the nine-year-old boy Alfie Steele found with some 50 injuries.
The pair had told jurors at Coventry Crown Court that Alfie Steele was not "dunked" in a bath at his home in Vashon Drive as a punishment prior to his death in February 2021.
But prosecutors said Alfie was repeatedly assaulted, beaten and put in a cold bath as part of a cruel and "sinister" regime of correction by Scott, 35, and Howell, 41.
During the five-week trial, prosecutor Michelle Heeley KC said the pair thought it was acceptable to hit Alfie with "belts, or a slider, like a heavy-duty flip flop, and use other more sinister forms of punishment".
Scott, 35, told her trial she had not "belted" Alfie, while Howell, 41, said he did not beat the schoolboy or attempt to stage a cover-up, instead claiming to have attempted CPR to revive his alleged victim.
The pair have also been convicted of child cruelty offences.
Howell, of Princip Street, Birmingham, denied murder, manslaughter and causing or allowing the death of Alfie – with the jury finding him guilty of murder.
Scott, of Vashon Drive, Droitwich, also denied murder, manslaughter, causing or allowing the death of Alfie and child cruelty offences.
But after more than 10 hours of deliberations, the jury returned a majority verdict on the manslaughter charge.
She was also convicted of child cruelty.
Paul Reid of the CPS said:
“As a mother, Carla Scott tragically put her loyalty to her partner above her duty to protect her child. It is a tragedy that Alfie’s life was cruelly taken away by the people who were supposed to love and care for him.
“We hope today’s verdict is a reminder that child abuse will not be tolerated, and that those who choose abuse over compassion can expect to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
“Our thoughts are with Alfie’s family at this time.”
The defendants will be sentenced on Thursday (15th June).
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