Man accused of killing Worcestershire boy denies punishing him
9 year-old Alfie Steele died in Droitwich in 2021
Last updated 6th Jun 2023
A man accused of murdering his partner's nine-year-old son in Worcestershire has told jurors he did not "dunk" him in a shallow bath as punishment, or beat him, on the day he died.
Dirk Howell also denied attempting to stage a cover-up along with Alfie Steele's mother, Carla Scott, following the youngster's death on February 18, 2021.
A trial at Coventry Crown Court has been told Alfie died after being "repeatedly assaulted, beaten" and "held" in a cold bath.
The schoolboy, who was covered in bruises, is alleged to have been subjected to a cruel and "sinister" regime of correction by Scott and Howell, both of whom deny murder.
Giving evidence in his defence yesterday, Mr Howell denied harming Alfie at his home in Vashon Drive, Droitwich, Worcestershire, on February 18.
The 41-year-old told jurors he had met Scott in 2019 when he had jumped out of a van and asked for her number.
Answering questions from his barrister, Alisdair Williamson KC, Howell said Scott "came flying" into their bedroom holding Alfie, crying, before putting him on the floor at the bottom of the bed.
"I said what's happened. She said he's not breathing. I said phone an ambulance," Howell told the jury.
According to his account, Mr Howell started CPR on Alfie after he checked for and could not find a pulse.
He told the court he realised chest compressions were not working and he left the house because his "head was a mess".
After denying that he had "punished" Alfie on the morning of February 18, Mr Howell said he did not know how the child had died.
Under cross-examination from prosecutor Michelle Heeley KC, Howell was shown CCTV of him being apprehended by police after running over a footbridge at Droitwich railway station.
Ms Heeley said of Howell: "I suggest that if you had killed Alfie then you might panic and run and that's what you were doing on the footage there."
Howell responded: "That's not true."
The defendant also denied "dunking" Alfie in a shallow bath, said he had no explanation for seven bruises found on his head, and denied that he had "set about a cover-up" with Scott.
Mr Howell, of Princip Street, Birmingham, denies murder, manslaughter and causing or allowing the death of Alfie.
Scott, of Vashon Drive, Droitwich, also denies murder, manslaughter, causing or allowing the death of Alfie and child cruelty offences against her son and other children.
The trial continues.