A heartbreaking photo of a 10-week-old baby who tragically died after being shaken violently has been released.
Lily-Mai Hurrell Saint George was born prematurely at 31 weeks in London’s Barnet Hospital. After two months in the neonatal unit and receiving special care, she managed to make good progress.
She was photographed sitting in her baby carrier wearing a pink cardigan and bonnet.
But only days or hours after the photo was taken, Lily-Mai suffered 18 rib fractures, a broken leg, and a fatal brain injury.
Her mother Lauren Saint George was convicted of infanticide. However, she was not found guilty of manslaughter or murder as the verdict recognized that her mind may have been disturbed for not being able to recover after giving birth.
The judge also assured the 25-year-old that she will receive no more than a suspended sentence.
She and Lily-Mai’s father, 25-year-old Darren Hurrell, were not the only ones in the dock as social workers from Haringey were also on trial.
Almost all staff member – nurses, doctors and midwives who looked after Lily-Mai in the hospital – were opposed to the baby being discharged into the custody of her parents, who were ‘woefully unsuited to care for her.’
Social workers were told that Saint George was not a normal mother, adding that she appeared to be incapable of putting Lily-Mai’s needs before her own.
They were told how Saint George blamed her daughter for not letting her sleep, how she stood with her back to her child while speaking on the phone in the special care unit, and how she complained about the ‘groaning’ noises Lily-Mai made when she was fighting for her life.
Lily-Mai’s great-aunt, Jane Sweeting, said after the trial: “In our hearts we knew that Lily-Mai was brutally and cruelly taken from our family by the one person who should have protected her most — her mother Lauren.
“Lily-Mai was just ten weeks old and we should be watching her growing up. She would have been five years old now.”
“Lauren was aggressive, violent and stroppy. Lily-Mai was premature,” Jane continued.
“When in neonatal care, Lauren refused to visit her because she was having her dinner. We attended her funeral and travelled miles to be there, but where was Lauren? No sign of her. She failed to attend her own daughter’s funeral.
“Not one member of her family’s side went.”
Jane also wrote in her letter: “Haringey Council should be ashamed of themselves for allowing Lily-Mai to continue her days with her parents, knowing that she was high risk.
“Why not take Lily-Mai when they had the chance? Yet another child slipped through the net at the hands of Haringey Council. When will it end?”
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