Ipswich homicide trial: Mom advised baby had accidents and 'we'll get the job accomplished'

A former nursery employee accused of murdering her two-year-old daughter advised a pal she couldn't name the police as a result of the kid had bruises and “we'll work for this”, a court docket heard.

Chelsea Gleeson-Mitchell and her then-boyfriend Scott Jaffe, each aged 24 and of no mounted deal with, have each denied the homicide of their daughter Isabella Wheeldon between 26 and 30 June 2023.

Police discovered the kid lifeless in a locked toilet at a short lived lodging unit in Sidegate Lane, Ipswich, on 30 June 2023.

Testifying at Ipswich Crown Court on Wednesday, Gleeson-Mitchell's pal Joanne Gardner described her as “a really nice girl, down to earth”.

He stated they met at momentary lodging in Sandy, Bedfordshire, when Miss Gardner arrived there in July 2021.

Miss Gardner stated Gleeson-Mitchell was in a relationship with Isabella's father on the time.

Miss Gardner stated, “I can't blame them – they were brilliant parents, they loved her very much.”

She stated Gleeson-Mitchell messaged her in May 2023 saying she and Thomas Wheldon have been now not collectively and later requested for £60 as a result of she and her daughter had no place to dwell.

Gleeson-Mitchell, whose household residence was within the Biggleswade space of ​​Bedfordshire, stated in a message that she had been looking for a spot to dwell in Great Yarmouth, however the council had advised her it was protected to return to Bedfordshire.

Jurors heard in a subsequent dialog between the pair, Gleeson-Mitchell “told me Isabella was dead”.

In a message learn to the court docket, Gleeson-Mitchell stated: “We can't call the police because he has injuries, and we will work through that.”

Miss Gardner stated Gleeson-Mitchell was “trying to tell me that Thomas was not Isabella's father – it was Scott, the new boyfriend I didn't know”.

Gleeson-Mitchell despatched a sequence of voice notes, one among which stated: “We literally can't go to the police because she's covered in bruises.”

In one other message, Gleeson-Mitchell advised Miss Gardner: “I think we'll just bury her and hope for the best.”

Miss Gardner stated Gleeson-Mitchell requested her to delete the messages and “gave the impression that the police were there”.

Miss Gardner referred to as social companies at about 10:50 BST on June 30 final 12 months after which dialed 999 at 11:07 pm the identical day to lift her issues, jurors heard in an agreed discovering.

Alex Kettle-Williams, prosecuting, stated police attended the momentary lodging unit at 13:07.

He stated Miss Gardner had reported to police that Gleeson-Mitchell “told her that her daughter had died three days earlier and she was still in her pushchair”.

Upon visiting, police discovered the flat empty and the toilet door closed, and an officer then seen “a strong musty smell and a pushchair had been pushed into the shower along with several blankets”.

“When he removed the last blanket, he saw the face of a little child,” she stated.

Jeff has denied one rely of inflicting or permitting the demise of a kid and two counts of kid cruelty.

Jurors have been beforehand advised that Gleeson-Mitchell had admitted murdering or allowing the homicide of a kid and two counts of kid cruelty.

Sasha Wass Casey, for Gleeson-Mitchell, requested Miss Gardner whether or not Gleeson-Mitchell was “someone who could be bullied”, and she or he replied “yes”.

Christopher Paxton Casey, for Jeff, requested Miss Gardner: “If you don't know Scott Jeff, you don't know anything about his character, do you?”

He replied: “No, I don't.”

The lawsuit is ongoing.