Toddler ‘stamped to death’ by mother and partner looked like car crash victim

A TODDLER who was allegedly killed by her mother and ex-partner suffered such serious injuries she resembled a car crash victim.

Ayeeshia Smith pictured the last time she was with her father Ricky Brown. A 21-month-old girl could be heard by neighbours begging "stop mummy, stop daddy" just days before she was stamped on to death by one of her parents, a court heard. See NTI story NTITOT. Mum Kathryn Smith, 23, and her partner Matthew Rigby, 22, have gone on trial accused of murdering tragic tot Ayeeshia Jane Smith. A court heard the child died after from a laceration to her heart that was caused by a powerful foot stamp on her chest, which triggered a cardiac arrest. Ayeeshia had only been returned to Smith six months before her death on May 1, 2014, having previously been taken into care by social services.

A COUPLE accused of murdering a 21-month-old left her with such serious injuries she resembled a car crash victim, a court heard.

Mum Kathryn Smith, 23, and her ex-partner Matthew Rigby, 22, are accused of killing Ayeeshia Jane Smith on May 1, 2014.

Little Ayeeshia allegedly died from a tear to her heart caused by a powerful foot stamp on her chest, The Sunreports.

A pathologist revealed the harrowing injuries sustained by the child were those he would usually expect to find on the victim of a road traffic collision.

Alexander Kolar — who conducted the post mortem — told Birmingham Crown Court the girl also suffered three fractured ribs as a result of “blunt force trauma”.

Dr Kolar said it would have taken just a minute for Aeeyshia to collapse in her home in Stretton, Staffordshire, following the heart laceration.

She also had 16 external injuries including bruises to her back and both her lungs had haemorrhaged.

Dr Kolar added: “The colour of these bruises indicate that there had been at least 24 hours between injury and death.”

When asked what sort of degree of force would be used to inflict this injury, Dr Kolar replied: “More than trivial forces have been used.

“It is blunt force trauma using reasonable severe force.

“I would expect these sorts of injuries to occur from severe trauma to the chest or torso similar to that of a victim of a road traffic collision or a fall from a height.”

He said the chest injuries were as a result of a very heavy impact or impacts to the body which “could have been as a result of stamping”.

Mother Kathryn Smith outside court.

Matthew Rigby.

The jury heard Aeeyshia’s rib fractures were two-thirds of the way down her body to the rear and could not have been caused by resuscitation attempts.

He added: “She had been subjected to a very significant trauma to the rear of her body resulting in a fatal chest injury. It was non-accidental.”

Smith, who wore a hooded jumper and jeans to court, and Rigby both deny murder.

The jury was told yesterday that Ayeeshia had been taken into care but was returned to Smith six months before she died.

A neighbour told the court yesterday: “I heard what sounded like an argument, and screaming, then I heard what I thought was a child’s voice.

“It was a short, different voice, and sounded young. I could hear the voice say, ‘Stop, mummy. Stop, daddy’ and sounded upset.”

She said on May 1, 2014 she returned from shopping shortly after 3pm and heard shouting again.

Smith, 23, called an ambulance at around 4pm. Both she and Rigby, who have since split up, wept as the call was played to the jury.

On the tape, sobbing Smith told the operator: “It’s my daughter, she’s had a seizure. She’s not breathing. She’s gone, she’s gone. You need to be here.”

The phone was then put on loudspeaker and Rigby, 22 — who is not Ayeeshia’s father — counts to five repeatedly as he performs chest compressions.

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission.