Nursery worker guilty of manslaughter over death of baby strapped to bean bag

A deputy manager of a nursery has been found guilty of manslaughter after a nine-month-old baby died when she was strapped tightly to a bean bag.

Kate Roughley, 37, was accused of manslaughter by ill-treatment of Genevieve Meehan, known as Gigi by her family, on 9 May 2022 at Tiny Toes in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport.

Prosecutors said the youngster died from asphyxiation from a combination of "pathophysiological stresses" after Roughley placed her face down, tightly swaddled and strapped to a bean bag and covered with a blanket.

She then ignored the cries and distress of Genevieve and showed "sporadic" and "fleeting" interest in her wellbeing for one hour and 37 minutes, prosecutors added, until she found her blue and unresponsive.

Roughley, who was the duty baby room leader in charge of sleeping arrangements that day, told Manchester Crown Court she placed Genevieve on her side, claiming her face was visible at all times.

She said she had no concerns she was in any distress.

On Monday, a jury of six men and six women at Manchester Crown Court unanimously found Roughley, of Heaton Norris, Stockport, guilty of manslaughter.

Prosecutors said the child's death was brought on by a "very unsafe sleeping environment" created by Roughley, which left Genevieve, known to her family as Gigi, in "mortal danger".

Peter Wright KC said the defendant inappropriately covered Genevieve with a blanket, and then deliberately did nothing about it.

In his closing speech to the jurors, Mr Wright said Roughley "considered Genevieve was occupying too much of her time and was too vocal, too demanding, so she was going to do something about it.

"Genevieve was being punished for her earlier perceived misdemeanours, for not sleeping long enough for her liking. She was being banished to the bean bag and restrained.

"It was a recipe for disaster, and disaster there followed."

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