Tragic tot compared to African famine victim

TRAGIC tot Ainlee Walker, who was allegedly tortured and starved to death by her parents, was yesterday compared to an African famine victim.

Child specialist Professor Jonathan Sibert told the Old Bailey that Ainlee, two, suffered “the most appalling neglect” as she withered away in a squalid flat.

Soon afterwards, Ainlee’s mother Leanne Labonte broke down in tears as a pathologist began to outline some of the 64 injuries found on the tiny body.

She leant forward and sobbed as Dr David Rouse got to the fourth injury. The trial was adjourned until Monday.

Labonte, 20, and her partner Dennis Henry, 39, of Plaistow, east London, are accused of manslaughter and child cruelty.

Ainlee died in January this year. Her injuries included cigarette burns and she weighed nearly three kilos less than she should have.

Prof Sibert, from the University of Wales, said the 64 marks of injury and malnutrition were signs of severe gross neglect and Ainlee had probably been abused most of her short life.

He said: “It was a horrendous pattern of neglect. Together with the injuries, it was of a magnitude different from anything in my professional experience.

He said: “The jury will be familiar with children in Africa. You see little children sitting there cowed and not moving. This is what I would suggest would be the situation with this little girl. While this was going on, she would certainly have suffered emotional abuse as well.”

Child protection nurse Anne Morgan told the court that a child protection file on Ainlee was closed in June 2000 despite her concerns.

Newham Social Services did not reply to a letter she sent asking why it had been done. Mrs Morgan said she had received a letter from the acting team manager of Newham Social Services, Sam Agyei, saying that the child protection team was closing the case.

The trial heard there were growing concerns at Ainlee’s “failure to thrive” and the way the family repeatedly failed to make hospital appointments or attend health clinics. Ainlee’s parents had to change doctors after trouble at a local surgery and were allocated a series of different health visitors following angry disagreements during which both Labonte and Henry were threatening and used abusive language.