Mother's Fate in Hands of Jury After Baby's Death in Car Crash

Strategic Insights -

A 22-year-old mother's trial has reached a crucial stage, with the jury set to resume its deliberations on Friday to decide whether to convict her of manslaughter after the death of her six-month-old son, Harry. Morgan Kiely, a carer from Clacton, denies manslaughter by gross negligence, claiming she is a "devoted and loving mother" who made a "dreadful but not grossly negligent" error in not securing the child car seat. The jury has been considering the evidence since Monday, with the court hearing that Kiely and her friend, Stevie Steel, were driving back from the beach after drinking rosé wine when the crash occurred.

Key Takeaways:

  • The prosecution alleges that Morgan Kiely's failure to secure the child car seat and her choice to get in the car with Stevie Steel, who had been drinking, amounted to gross negligence.
  • The defense argues that Kiely's actions were not grossly negligent, citing the complexity of the child car seat system and the fact that it is highly unlikely but not impossible that the straps were secured correctly.
  • The jury heard testimony from an expert witness about the child car seat, including its design and how it is intended to work.
  • The court was told that Kiely had taken Harry on several trips, including to Liverpool and Scotland, and had recently returned to work as a carer.
  • Morgan Kiely chose not to give evidence in her own defense, with her lawyer, Benjamin Summers, arguing that she did not have a viable defense to present.
  • Stevie Steel, the driver of the car, had previously admitted causing death by careless driving while over the drink drive limit.

Statistics:

  • The crash occurred on July 13, 2022, at approximately 6:30 pm in Cherry Tree Avenue, Clacton.
  • The vehicle, a Ford Focus, rolled onto its roof, with Kiely and Steel left hanging upside down by their seatbelts.
  • Harry was thrown through the open window of the car and treated at the scene for over an hour before being taken to hospital.
  • The child died at approximately 9 pm.

Sources:

  • "Chelmsford Crown Court"
  • "Essex Police"