A man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for the manslaughter of his 14-week-old daughter, who died of a catastrophic brain injury.
Christopher Izzy, 31, was convicted of manslaughter and neglect of Elinor in Norwich court in March after a 10-week trial in which the baby was heard to have suffered three brain hemorrhages and 31 rib fractures before his death.
Elinor Izzy. Photo: Norfolk / PA police
Eleanor’s mother, Carly Izzy, 36, was found guilty of one count of negligence and sentenced to 12 months on a public order requiring her to participate in a program of activities.
Judge Edward Murray said he was “certain” that Christopher was the one who “inflicted all the serious injuries Elinor suffered” and that Carly did not know [her] the husband was wounded [their] baby and has done it many times.
Christopher was found guilty of manslaughter after jurors rejected his allegation that he “dropped Elinor on her head, distracted by the barking of dogs,” the judge said.
Elinor was taken to hospital on December 18, 2019, after being found unanswered at home and died two days later. Experts said her injuries were consistent with a non-accidental head injury, possibly due to tremors or a blow, or a combination of both.
The jury heard that Carly had concealed her pregnancy, and after being born two weeks premature, Eleanor spent the first few weeks of her life in the intensive care unit. Hospital staff referred the family to social services after noting that they did not appear to be interested in the newborn, leaving bottle-feeding to staff and rarely visiting the intensive care unit.
A social worker from the Norfolk County Council, who visited the family on the day Elinor was released, “noted little communication or interaction” between them and Elinor. In October, health visitors noticed bruises and scratches on Elinor’s face, which her mother said were due to an inappropriate car seat and that the baby had been scratched.
The post-mortem examination showed that Elinor was malnourished, had a bulging chest and reduced limb muscle mass.
The judge said that both parents “at times gave her a diluted pumpkin to drink instead of milk” and described it as “completely inappropriate” that she was given a cream cake. He said both parents had “abandoned” Elinor “at least once in a while”.
Elizabeth Marsh QC, mitigating for Carly Izzy, said Elinor “was killed without action or inaction” by her mother. “She feels extremely guilty for failing to protect her baby from the man who cheated on her,” she said.
Sally O’Neill QC, mitigating Christopher Easy, said he would “take to his grave … the knowledge of what caused his baby daughter’s injuries.” She describes him as a “very inexperienced father.”
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