THE DEATH of a seven-month-old Lutterworth baby girl has resulted in the child’s aunt being found guilty of manslaughter.
Chuanfang Zheng, 31, of Mortlock Close, Southwark, London, was convicted on Friday (January 27) at Leicester Crown Court.
The incident happened in March 2015, resulting in the death of the girl, Phoebe Guo, in hospital three days later.
The court heard how Phoebe, who was in the care of Zheng at the time, became pale and struggled to breathe.
It was discovered the baby suffered non-accidental brain damage, most likely to be caused by being shaken.
Detective Chief Inspector Natalee Wignall, who led the investigation, said: “This has been a long investigation to find out what happened to this little girl and the circumstances which led to her death.
“While the result today won’t bring Phoebe back, justice has been done and a jury has found Zheng guilty of manslaughter.
“The trial is the result of almost two years work for officers across the force, and the result today is a testament to their determination.”
Zheng has been remanded and will be sentenced on 24 February at Leicester Crown Court.
After the verdict, an NSPCC spokesman said: “This was a horrific attack on a defenceless child by someone trusted to look after her.
“There is no excuse for a carer to inflict such appalling injuries no matter what pressure they might be experiencing. Just a moment’s loss of control can result in a tragedy like this.
“Even worse, Zheng tried to lie her way out of trouble and even blamed the child’s mother, who had desperately tried to save her.
“We would urge any parent or carer who is feeling stressed or is concerned about a child to call our helpline – 0808 800 5000 – without hesitation, as it could save a life.”
Visit www.nspcc.org.uk for more information.
