Nurse pleaded for case to stay open

A child protection nurse has told the jury in the trial of a couple
accused of the manslaughter of their daughter that a social
services manager closed the case on the two-year-old, despite pleas
for him to reconsider.

Anne Morgan, a nurse at Newham General Hospital, told an Old Bailey
jury that she had raised fears about Ainlee Walker’s health at
multi-agency meetings and wrote several times to social services
after the decision was made to close the case. However, she did not
receive a response.

A neighbour of Ainlee’s parents, Leanne Labonte and Dennis Henry,
also told the court that she had phoned social services and the
police to report concerns after she heard children’s cries and
screams coming from the couple’s flat.

Gwendolyn Veale said that police and Newham social services had
visited the flat more than once but had been refused entry by
Labonte.

Ainlee died from chronic abuse and neglect in January this year.

Henry had called an ambulance after the toddler stopped breathing.
But attempts to resuscitate her failed and she died minutes later,
weighing just 23lbs.

The case continues.