A doctor was highly concerned about her mother’s ‘aggressive and explosive’ behavior, according to a doctor testifying in the murder prosecution of Lily-Mae Saint George.
Ten-week-old Lily-Mae died as a result of a catastrophic head injury, as well as 18 rib fractures, two leg fractures, and extensive bruises.
Lauren Saint George and Darren Hurrell, both 25, are accused of shaking her to death eight days after she was released from the hospital against hospital staff’s recommendations.
Both parents deny murder, manslaughter, causing or permitting a child’s death, and cruelty to a person under the age of 16.
Lily-Mai was born prematurely in November 2017 and spent the first two months of her life at Barnet Hospital before being discharged on January 25, 2018, to her parents’ care.
Jurors heard that Saint George and Hurrell had been homeless for some years and that officials had sought to prevent them from bringing Lily-Mai home because they were unable to care for her.
They were shocked when Saint George told staff that she ‘hated’ Lily-noises Mai’s and hoped she’d ‘tear instead of grunt.’
The infant died on February 2, 2018, at Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, two days after her parents discovered her unconscious at their house in Belmont Road, Haringey.
Lily-Mai was barely two weeks past a typical pregnant term at 10 weeks and two days old.
Dr. James Rosenberg, who testified in a black suit, told jurors that he and his colleagues at Barnet Hospital were worried about Saint George’s behavior leading up to Lily’s release.
Dr. Rosenberg had been in charge of the baby’s care as a neonatal consultant.
He collected minutes of the professionals’ meeting on January 16, 2018, at which personnel addressed Lily-safety Mai’s with her parents.
Haringey social worker Theresa Ferguson, Barnet Hospital safeguarding children advisor Sally Taylor, midwives Marie Creighton and Juliette Henry, and community neonatal sister Deborah Hodge were among those who attended the meeting, according to reports.
The jury heard that Saint George was “frequently fairly belligerent and nasty” in those minutes.
‘Mother now on Citalopram [anti-depressant],’ the doctor said as he read the minutes aloud.
‘Lauren hasn’t changed after taking the drug.
‘She says she uses it to help her deal with her rage.’
‘Mother has the impression that the unit is picking at things.
‘We want to be able to help them,’ Sally says again.
‘Sally is concerned about Lauren’s reaction to Lily-Mai’s
‘Lauren points out that this is incorrect.
‘She says she’s been quite busy relocating and getting ready for Lily-Mai.’
‘Darren is concerned about Lauren’s constant rage and snapping.
‘He needs to tell her not to yell at her father or the nurses.’
‘Explained infant is likely to aggravate rage.
‘Lauren says she’ll deal with it, and Darren will assist her.’
‘Mother left the room because she is quite furious,’ Dr Rosenberg stated after more debate.
The court heard that medical officials were concerned about Lily-reaction Mai’s to her behavior.
‘If a parent is angry, depressed, or disturbed on a regular basis, it may have a significant impact on their child’s development,’ Dr Rosenberg added.
Hurrell was said to be more receptive to what the experts were saying.
Despite this, the doctor expressed his worries.
‘As a neonatal unit team, we were worried about Lily’s parents’ capacity to meet her requirements and offer a loving, nurturing environment in which she could develop healthily.’
Saint George, of Bonnington House, Enfield, and Hurrell, of Meadow Lane, Alvaston, Derby, are accused with murder, manslaughter, causing or permitting the death of a child, and cruelty to a person under the age of sixteen. The trial is still ongoing.