Today, the court heard that a pathologist who performed an autopsy on an 18-month-old boy killed by his stepfather discovered scars and bruises all over his body “while his mother did nothing.”
Tamika Beaton, age 25, is accused of neglecting her son Andrew Cawker in the months preceding his death by placing him in the care of Scott Coombe, age 24.
Andrew was violently shaken before hitting his head on the floor when he was thrown because Coombe became ‘irritated’ while caring for him, as was previously shown at trial.
The toddler, described as “warm and beautiful,” sustained a head injury on July 9, 2019 and died 13 days later in the hospital, according to testimony at the Old Bailey.
Andrew was allegedly attacked multiple times by Coombe, but Beaton did nothing and instead blamed the boy’s biological father, Ben Cawker.
Beaton continues to deny that she mistreated him, despite the fact that Coombe has acknowledged to the toddler’s murder and child abuse.
Dr. Nathaniel Cary, a pathologist, discovered no evidence of a congenital defect as the reason of the boy’s death.
Andrew’s bottom boyd displayed a number of ‘linear scars,’ according to the autopsy report.
Dr. Cary, a 30-year Home Office pathologist, told the court, “This indicates that a very sharp object caused the initial incision, which has since healed into a very small scar.”
Sally O’Neill, KC, the prosecutor, inquired, “On the inside of the right lower thigh, you describe a curving linear scar; please explain.”
Dr. Cary responded, “Since the curve is convex, it has been formed by a cutting action of the skin in either direction, depending on the instrument used.”
“They are all quite thin and similar in appearance; whatever caused this must have been fairly sharp and scraped against the skin to leave the longest scar, number five.”
Ms. O’Neill questioned, “On the 10th of July, on page 1, there are two bruises; what do you say about those?”
Dr. Cary said that the bruises were caused by fingertip-like pressure, or a form of poking.
“Would you think that the bruising or abrasion on the right ear’s outer helix is consistent with that?” stated Ms O’Neill.
“It is consistent with fingertip pressure pinching or impact, and you can tell that there has been abrasion of the skin,” Dr. Cary explained.
‘You don’t expect bruises in a young infant or toddler unless they’ve been quite active; bruises to the hips because they bang into objects, and bruises to the forehead because they’re walking into things. Mr. Cary remarked that facial and abdominal abrasions were inexplicable absent a collision.
Ms. O’Neill said, “If there was an accident, would you expect the parent or caretaker to be able to describe how it occurred?”
Yes, confirmed Dr. Cary.
Beaton met Ben Cawker in 2014, when she was 16 years old, and he was ecstatic when she became pregnant three years later.
The court heard that by the time she moved into a studio apartment in Peckham when Andrew was four months old, her relationship with Mr. Cawker was “starting to go awry.”
In May of 2018, she met Coombe in an exercise class.
Mr. Cawker testified in court that Beaton kept him informed on his son’s health in the months preceding his passing.
When asked if Beaton hid anything from him, Mr. Cawker replied, “No, over our son in particular – his food, any needs if he was ill – she always kept me informed of everything that was happening with him.”
Mr. Cawker stated that he and Beaton discussed facial blemishes with a mediator in May 2019.
He stated to the court, “After the mediation, the situation appeared much better and communication had improved.”
Overall, the relationship also improved. I had absolutely no reason to question anything.
Mr. Cawker admitted that social services were not contacted prior to Andrew’s passing.
“The markings that troubled me, the significant ones, had disappeared. Small marks in my mind represented a typical toddler running around.
Speaking of Andrew’s passing, he added, ‘Up until that day, I was under the impression that things were improving, so it came as a tremendous shock to me.’
Beaton, of Lindon Grove, Peckham, denies committing child abuse.
Between 7 January and 9 July 2019, it is alleged that she intentionally mistreated or neglected Andrew in a manner likely to cause him needless hardship or harm to his health.
It is also alleged that she consistently left her son in Coombe’s care, so failing to prevent him from being wounded, and that she failed to report Andrew’s injuries to social services.
Coombe, from Petts Wood, Kent, has guilty to manslaughter and cruelty to children.
The proceeding continues.