Jury retires in trial of Droitwich mum accused of killing nine-year-old
Alfie Steele's mum, Carla Scott, and her boyfriend Dirk Howell both deny murder
A jury has retired to consider verdicts on a Worcestershire mum and her boyfriend who are accused of killing nine-year-old Alfie Steele.
Alfie was found dead in a bath at his Vashon Drive home in Droitwich in February 2021, with Carla Scott and Dirk Howell both denying they killed him.
The pair have been on trial for five weeks, and are also accused of manslaughter and causing or allowing the death of a child.
At Coventry Crown Court on Friday, Mr Justice Wall summarised the defendants' evidence, including how they admitted they had lied to police.
But Howell, 41 and of Princip Street in Birmingham, said he hadn't dunked Alfie in the bath on the morning of his death and had instead been in the bedroom "chilling" and listening to music.
Scott, 35, also denied putting Alfie in a bath of cold water and said injuries were from accidents such as one that he had on his bike.
Howell said he performed CPR on Alfie when he was pulled from the bath, but left the scene before the emergency services arrived.
The pair then lied about Howell's whereabouts, claiming he hadn't been to the house for days.
The jury will now consider the verdicts, with the judge telling them: said: "There is no time pressure on you as to how long you should take to reach verdicts.
"This is a serious case and you will want to give it the time you think it needs.
"Don't worry about the clock - worry about talking it through and reaching the right verdicts based on the evidence you accept."