Charge dropped against baby murder accused mother

Charges of murder or manslaughter against the mother of a five-week-old baby who died from a brain injury have been dropped.

Amy Clarke, 34, of Enots Close, Lichfield, was charged over the death of Darcy-Leigh Jefferson and still faces a charge of causing or allowing the death of a child, which she denies.

A jury at Stafford Crown Court was told on Monday that prosecutors would not be continuing their case on the more serious charges.

Darcy-Leigh's father, Sean Jefferson, 35, of Birch Court, Walsall, denies the same charge and also counts of murder or manslaughter over his daughter's death.

The move to discontinue on the charges was announced as closing speeches were made at the court, ahead of the jury retiring to consider its verdicts.

Darcy-Leigh died in hospital on 29 March 2022 from a brain injury she suffered two days earlier.

The trial previously heard she had also suffered more than 40 rib fractures, as well as broken legs.

Clarke and Jefferson, who at the time lived in Burntwood, Staffordshire, also deny two counts of causing grievous bodily harm and two counts of causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical harm.

The court heard Clarke was struggling in the run up to Darcy-Leigh's death and that she had engaged in a number of heated exchanges with Jefferson.

These included text messages about how she was exhausted and felt he was not supporting her.

The trial continues.

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