Mum who took grinning SELFIE with baby son she battered to death jailed for life

Emma Wilson has been jailed for a minimum of 14 years for inflicting "catastrophic injuries" on 11-month-old Callum

By Vicky Smith - Mirror.co.uk

January 25, 2014

An evil mum who posed for selfies with her screaming baby before battering him to death was today jailed for life.

Emma Wilson, 25, grinned in the horrific snaps that showed injuries she had inflicted on 11-month Callum.

Then heartless Wilson hit the rejected tot so violently it shook her downstairs neighbours’ ceiling and light fitting.

And she even tried to blame the killing on the baby’s two-year-old brother.

She said the “boisterous” and “rough” toddler was jealous and took a shocking picture of him wielding a pair of secateurs at Callum.

The baby was left blind and had nine ­fractured ribs and a broken arm and leg after enduring horrific violence in the weeks before he died of an “unsurviveable” brain injury.

Cruel Wilson claimed being a mum was “the best thing in the world”.

Yet she rejected Callum at birth, kept his existence a secret from even her doting parents and then had him buried in an unmarked communal grave.

Today Wilson, found guilty of murder at the Old Bailey last month, was sentenced by Judge Stephen Kramer.

He told her she was an adept liar and went on: “You must have been the person who caused the injuries which the court saw in photographs that for some reason you took.

“Your neighbours heard five or six loud bangs in quick succession.

“They caused the ceiling and light fitting to shake and the neighbours thought ‘the kid was going to come through the floor’.”

Wilson did not dial 999 until the morning after, telling emergency services her son was “lifeless and not doing anything”. He died two days later.

During the trial, prosecutor Paul Dunkels said Callum’s fatal brain injury was caused by a direct blow or from striking his head against something while his broken leg may have been caused by banging against a hard surface.

One blow caused his retina to detach, leaving him blind.

The jury was told Callum’s older brother did not have the strength to inflict the severe injuries.

The judge told Wilson: “You come from a good, loving and supportive large family. You were clearly a good mother to your other son but for some reason you rejected Callum.

“If looking after two children was too much for you there was support there in the shape of your family and health ­professionals.

“You have shown no emotion throughout the trial – it is a troubling feature in this case.”

Reports stated Wilson has no mental disorder or illness. She left her son in hospital after he was born and kept his existence a secret for seven months while he was in foster care.

Even her parents were not aware they had a new grandchild.

Wilson said she put the baby up for adoption because her boyfriend at the time, Neil Richardson, “thought she couldn’t cope with two children”.

Mr Richardson had been believed to be the child’s father but it transpired the baby was the result of a fling with another man, Lee Workman. The trial was told he was unaware he was Callum’s dad until after the boy died in March 2011.

In late 2010 Wilson took Callum out of foster care and brought him to live at her council flat in Windsor, Berks.

However she continued to lie about the boy, even telling a nursery he was her cousin’s son.

She also gave a false address for the youngster to staff at Woodlands Park Village children’s centre in Maidenhead.

At her trial Wilson claimed that bruises on Callum’s face had been caused by an older, non-existent sister.

Mr Dunkels said staff noticed Callum change from a “happy, smiling baby” to “emotionless and listless”.

The jury was shown computer-generated images of the injuries, some of which Wilson tried to blame on her efforts to revive her son.

She said: “I was holding him really tight because his head was very heavy. Well, I was panicking, he wasn’t holding his head.”

She claimed she never hurt her son and said: “It’s the best thing in the world being a mum.”

Wilson sobbed as she was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 14 years. Family members in the public gallery were also in tears.

A serious case review into Callum’s death is set to be be published in four to six weeks.

The tot was known to social workers at one of PM David Cameron’s flagship Big Society authorities – the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.

Before his murder, the council had funded a 4% cut in council tax through savings to departments including ­children’s services.

When Callum died, the council was planning further cuts of £1.5million to the department.

The council declined to comment tonight until after the review.

Callum Wilson murder: Mother Emma Wilson jailed for life

BBC.co.uk

January 24, 2014

A woman has been jailed for life after beating and blinding her 11-month-old son who she then murdered.

Callum Wilson, from Windsor, suffered a detached retina, an "unsurvivable brain injury", broken bones and bruising, and died in hospital in March 2011.

Emma Wilson, 25, of Paddock Close, had blamed the injuries on Callum's "boisterous" older brother.

She was sentenced to life with a minimum of 14 years, at the Old Bailey in London.

Wilson was convicted of murder in December after she was unanimously found guilty by a jury following a five-week trial at the same court.

Wilson became pregnant in 2009 after a relationship with Lee Workman, who was unaware he was the father, prosecutor Paul Dunkels QC said during the trial.

'Brother blamed'

As with her first child, Wilson showed no physical signs of pregnancy and was able to keep Callum's birth a secret.

The court heard her then-partner, Neil Mitchinson, had insisted Callum be put up for adoption, something Wilson "deeply regretted".

Callum was born on 23 April 2010 and spent the first few months of his life with foster parents.

In November 2010 he was returned to his mother, but on 18 March 2011 he was taken by ambulance to Wexham Park Hospital in Slough suffering serious injuries.

Following medical tests he was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, where he died on 21 March.

The infant was found with a brain injury, rib, arm and leg fractures and bruising across his face and body.

During Wilson's trial, Mr Dunkels told the jury she had claimed "constant pushing and rolling" of Callum by his then 23-month-old brother may have been to blame for the injuries.

He added: "But he could not have fractured Callum's ribs, which was consistent with violent squeezing of Callum's chest."

She also blamed Callum's brother after health and social workers spotted scratches on him during visits to Wilson's flat, the jury was told.

'Violent act'

The court heard Wilson also lied to staff and parents at a playgroup at Woodlands Park Village children's centre in Maidenhead, claiming Callum was her cousin's son.

She provided a false surname and address for the youngster and claimed on one occasion that bruising on Callum's face had been caused by an older sister who in fact did not exist, prosecutor Paul Dunkels said.

Staff noticed Callum change from a "happy, smiling baby" to "emotionless and listless", he added.

Photographs were shown to the jury of Callum with visible bruising to his face.

The Crown Prosecution Service said at least one picture was taken by Wilson of her with Callum in the background, but there was no evidence to suggest that it was after the baby had died.

Mr Dunkels said the prosecution did not believe Wilson intended to kill her son but claimed she carried out "a violent act" against a "vulnerable" child.

Following the sentencing, Det Supt Ian Hunter said: "The sentence today is a reflection of the abuse Callum suffered at the hands of someone entrusted to care for him and the pain he must have felt during his short life.

"It also reflects on the dedication and efforts of the investigating officers and prosecution team to deliver justice for Callum during what was a difficult and emotional case for many of them.

"Of course, sadly it does not bring Callum back and our thoughts will always remain with him."

A serious case review report is due to be published by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead's Local Safeguarding Children Board in four to six weeks time.

Callum Wilson murder case: Mother Emma Wilson found guilty

BBC.co.uk

December 13, 2013

A woman has been found guilty of murdering her 11-month-old son.

Emma Wilson, 25, of Windsor, inflicted an "unsurvivable brain injury" on her son Callum, the Old Bailey heard.

The infant, who also suffered rib, arm and leg fractures and bruising across his face and body, died in March 2011. Wilson will be sentenced next month.

Speaking after the verdict, Det Ch Insp Ian Hunter said Callum had "suffered an abhorrent catalogue of abuse at the hands of his mother".

'Harrowing journey'

Wilson, of Paddock Close, denied murdering her son, who had also lost sight from a detached retina.

She was convicted following a five-week trial.

Callum was born on 23 April 2010 and spent the first few months of his life with foster parents.

In November 2010 he was returned to his mother, but on 18 March 2011 was taken by ambulance to Wexham Park Hospital in Slough suffering serious injuries.

Following medical tests he was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford where he died on 21 March.

Det Ch Insp Hunter said: "This case has been a harrowing and emotional journey for all involved.

"Callum's life was cruelly cut short. Our thoughts will always be with Callum."

Prosecutor Paul Dunkels QC told the jury Wilson had claimed "constant pushing and rolling" of Callum by his then 23-month-old brother may have been to blame for the injuries.

He added: "But he could not have fractured Callum's ribs which was consistent with violent squeezing of Callum's chest."

She also blamed Callum's "boisterous" brother after health and social workers spotted scratches on Callum during visits to Wilson's flat, the jury was told.

Mr Dunkels said that Callum's fatal brain injury was caused by a "direct blow" or from striking his head against something, while his leg fracture may have been the result of "banging against a hard surface".

Non-existent sister

The court heard Wilson lied to staff and parents at a playgroup at Woodlands Park Village children's centre in Maidenhead, claiming Callum was her cousin's son.

She provided a false surname and address for the child and claimed on one occasion that bruising on Callum's face had been caused by an older sister who did not exist.

Staff noticed Callum change from a "happy, smiling baby" to "emotionless and listless", Mr Dunkels said.

He added it was not the Crown's case that Wilson intended to kill her son but claimed she carried out "a violent act" against a "vulnerable" child.

"It may have been in a moment of temper, she may have been regretful after it was done," he said.

"She must have realised she was causing Callum a great deal of pain."

Wilson will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on 24 January.

Mother 'battered her baby son then took pictures of his injuries before she murdered him'

• Emma Wilson, 25, is accused of repeatedly beating her baby son Callum

• A jury heard how she would then take pictures of his injuries

• Callum was rushed to hospital with 'catastrophic' injuries in March 2011

• The 11-month-old died two days later from an 'unsurvivable brain injury'

• His mother claims her older 23-month-old son is to blame for the injuries

By Suzannah Hills - DailyMail.co.uk

November 27, 2013

A mother accused of repeatedly beating her 11-month-old son before killing him today claimed his 23-month-old brother is responsible for the injuries that led to his death.

Emma Wilson, 25, allegedly took pictures of her baby son Callum before deliberately hurting him and then taking more pictures of his injuries.

Wilson is accused of doing this several times in the weeks leading up to her son's death when she allegedly caused him 'catastrophic' and 'unsurvivable brain injuries'.

Callum was rushed to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford in March, 2011, with a detached retina which had caused him to lose his sight and he also had multiple fractures and bruises all over his tiny body. He died two days later.

But Wilson today told the Old Bailey that Callum's older brother is to blame for the injuries - claiming he was jealous of his younger brother.

Jurors were shown a series of photos Wilson took of Callum in the weeks leading up to his death in which bruises and scratches can clearly be seen on both his face.

But Wilson says Callum's older brother, then aged 23 months, inflicted the injuries because he was 'jealous' he no longer had all her attention.

The 25-year-old told the Old Bailey she never hurt her son and claimed: 'It's the best thing in the world being a mum.'

Wilson told the court how she didn't realise she was pregnant when she had her first child in April 2009.

Shortly afterwards she got pregnant with Callum after a one night stand, but she didn't know she had conceived again until two months before he was born as she continued to have periods and hardly put on any weight.

However, she chose to put him in foster care for the first seven months of his life because her then boyfriend didn't want anything to do with him.

It was only when the trainee nail technician bumped into Callum and his foster mum in a Mothercare in Slough in May 2010 that she went about getting him back.

He was returned to Wilson, then 23, in November 2010 who says at that point her 'life was perfect.'

But over the next few months when social workers visited them at her Windsor home, they spotted scratches on Callum.

The jury heard she even lied to staff and parents at a play group in Maidenhead claiming Callum was her cousin's son, providing a false surname and address for him.

On one occasion, she claimed bruising on Callum's face had been caused by an older sister, who in fact did not exist.

But she said the reason she made up lies was because at that time no one knew Callum was hers and she couldn't deal with the embarrassment of people asking questions.

'It was so difficult just to say this is my son, he's been in foster care for seven months of his life,' she said.

Within months staff at the playgroup began to notice that Callum changed from a 'happy, smiling baby' to an 'emotionless and listless boy'.

But Wilson claims his injuries must have been caused by her other son who would 'throw things at Callum and push him over'.

'He was boisterous and would get generally jealous of Callum', she told the court.

She claims she tried to seek advice from her parents, GP and a health visitor on how to deal with the sibling rivalry.

'My other son would be rough with him. He liked to grab Callum's face and would leave him with scratches and bruises,' she told the court.

Callum was rushed to hospital with head injuries in March 2011 and died two days later.

A post mortem revealed the baby had also suffered fractures to nine ribs, to his right arm and left leg and were caused two weeks before he died.

Wilson, of Paddock Close, Windsor, denies murder.

The trial continues.

  

Callum Wilson murder trial: Mother caused baby 'catastrophic' injuries

BBC.co.uk

November 12, 2013

A baby suffered "catastrophic" injuries after he was fatally assaulted by his mother, a court has heard.

Eleven-month-old Callum Wilson died in hospital on 18 March 2011 having suffered an "unsurvivable brain injury", the Old Bailey heard.

His mother, Emma Wilson, 25, of Paddock Close, Windsor, has denied her son's murder.

The prosecution claims she carried out "a violent act" against a "vulnerable" child.

Prosecutor Paul Dunkels QC told the jury that Callum was taken to hospital in Oxford in a "collapsed state" and "died two days later".

"Violent movement may also have contributed to the brain injury," he told the jury.

A post-mortem examination revealed Callum had also suffered rib, arm and leg fractures and had bruising across his face and body.

'Emotionless and listless'

The court was told that doctors believed the fractures had been caused 10 to 14 days before Callum died.

Mr Dunkels said Ms Wilson had "no plausible explanation" for her son's injuries but that she claimed "constant pushing and rolling" by his then 23-month-old brother, who can not be named for legal reasons, may have been to blame.

He told the jury the elder son would not have had the strength to cause fractures.

The court heard Ms Wilson had her elder son, now four, with her partner.

She later became pregnant with Callum in 2009 after a relationship with another man, who was unaware he was the father, Mr Dunkels said.

Callum was fostered but returned to his mother's home in November 2010.

Health and social workers spotted scratches on Callum during visits to her flat, but Ms Wilson blamed them on the boy's "boisterous" brother, the jury was told.

The court heard Ms Wilson lied to staff at a playgroup in Maidenhead, claiming Callum was her cousin's son.

Mr Dunkels said she provided a false surname and address for the baby and claimed on one occasion that bruising on Callum's face had been caused by a non-existent older sister.

Staff noticed Callum change from a "happy, smiling baby" to "emotionless and listless", the prosecutor added.

'Moment of temper'

In March 2011, Ms Wilson arrived for two playgroup sessions without Callum, which Mr Dunkels said was to allow him to "recover from the immediate impact of injuries she had caused to him"

Photographs were shown to the jury of Callum with visible bruising to his face shortly before his death.

One picture showed Callum with his older brother who was holding a pair of open secateurs.

Mr Dunkels said Ms Wilson had carried out "a violent act" against a "vulnerable" child, possibly "in a moment of temper".

"She may have been regretful after it was done," he said.

"She must have realised she was causing Callum a great deal of pain."

The trial continues.

  

Young mother ‘battered baby son to death after covering up abuse by claiming he was not her child’

• Two weeks before he died Callum had fractures to nine ribs, his leg and arm

• 11-month-old was found unconscious in his cot on March 18, 2011

• He died two days later from a severe head injury caused by a blunt impact

• Mother Emma Wilson, 25, denies murdering the child she claimed was her cousin's son

By Lizzie Parry - DailyMail.co.uk

November 12, 2013

A young mother battered her 11-month-old son to death after covering up months of abuse by pretending he was not her child, the Old Bailey heard today.

Emma Wilson, 25, is accused of inflicting an 'unsurvivable brain injury' on her son Callum, who had also lost sight from a detached retina and had multiple fractures and bruising all over his body.

The jury heard she used a false name for her son and claimed that she was looking after him for her cousin.

She paid hardly any attention to the boy on trips to the nursery and shrugged off concerns about the number of bruises on his face, it is claimed.

Two weeks before his death Callum suffered fractures to nine ribs, his left leg and his right arm, the court heard.

The injuries were not discovered until the boy was rushed to hospital after being found unconscious in his cot on the morning of March 18, 2011.

Wilson, who denies murder, remained calm and did not appear to be upset at the plight of her child, the court heard.

Callum died two days later as a result of a severe head injury caused by a blunt impact.

Wilson claimed 'constant pushing and rolling' of Callum by his then 23-month-old brother, who can not be named for legal reasons, may have been to blame.

Prosecutor Paul Dunkels QC said: ‘The injuries were a culmination of a series of violent acts by her towards her vulnerable son.

‘She must have realised she was causing Callum a great deal of pain. Her last and fatal assault on him involved a forceful impact on his head.

'It must have been a directly blow to his head or striking his head on something.

‘It may have been done in a moment of temper, it might have been regretted immediately after it was done but at the critical moment that was her intention.’

A post mortem examination revealed severe swelling to the baby’s brain, to the extent it had shifted within the skull and was pushing down on the stem.

There was also bleeding around the optic nerves on both eyes and he had suffered a detached retina.

The pathologist also discovered old and new fractures to ribs on both the youngster’s back and front, one to his wrist and one to his lower leg. There was bruising to his face, head, chest, back and leg.

The court heard Wilson tried to hide Callum’s existence from her family and friends after his birth on April 23, 2010.

She became pregnant with the boy while having an affair with a young man, Lee Workman, and DNA tests later proved her partner Neil Mitchinson was not the father, jurors were told.

Wilson planned to put him up for adoption and gave him away to a foster parent but changed her mind and took him into her home in November that year.

Two days later a social worker noticed a tiny scratch on his face but Wilson claimed it had been caused by an older boy.

In January 2011 the GP also noted five scratches to his nose and side of his face and bruises to his forehead and cheek.

Wilson gave the same explanation but insisted she did not have any concerns.

During the same period staff at a local nursery, the Woodlands Park Village Children’s Centre in Maidenhead, Berkshire, also noticed bruising.

Wilson had given the boy’s name as Callum Keeler and claimed he was her cousin’s baby.

‘She used this to distance herself from the many bruises,’ said the prosecutor.

‘Witnesses describe how Callum always used to have old and fresh bruises on his face.’

Wilson told one witness that ‘she dreaded taking him back to his mum as his mum must think she beats him’.

Mr Dunkels said the abuse led to Callum becoming increasingly withdrawn and less mobile.

‘In the early days he had been a happy, smiling baby but he became blank, emotionless and listless,’ said the prosecutor.

‘She [Emma Wilson] gave the impression that her relationship with Callum was not that of mother and son.

‘It seemed that she was annoyed at having to look after Callum for her cousin.’

Experts believe that Callum suffered the fractures to his ribs, arm and leg between March 6 and 10.

Mr Dunkels said that Wilson did not take her son to the nursery between March 8 and 9.

‘The prosecution suggest she may have been keeping Callum away while he made some recovery from the effects of the injuries she had caused to him at that time,’ he added.

On March 11 another mother heard Callum screaming and crying at the swimming pool and then noticed him with new bruises on his face, the court heard.

Four days later a nursery assistant also noticed a large bruise on his cheek and one of the mothers described him as being ‘the worst she had ever seen him,’ it is claimed.

On March 17, Wilson explained away bruising by claiming that Callum had fallen off a toy at the nursery.

She told staff she was not bringing him to a ‘Stay and Play’ event the next day because she did not have to look after her cousin’s child on Fridays.

Mr Dunkels said: ‘Right to the end she was perpetuating her lies as to who Callum was and distancing herself from him by concealing their true relationship.’

Photographs of Callum during this period also revealed the bruising to his face - including one in which Wilson grins next to her crying son.

‘This is a photograph taken when he is obviously pretty miserable - that doesn’t seem to be a matter of concern judging by the look on her face,’ said Mr Dunkels.

Another photo showed Callum moving away from a young boy wielding a pair of open secateurs.

Wilson took Callum to her parents’ home on the afternoon of March 17 before heading back to her flat in Windsor at 7pm.

‘At some time over the next 13 hours when Callum was in her sole care at her flat he received a fatal blow to his head and the earlier fractured ribs were re-fractured,’ said Mr Dunkels.

Their neighbours downstairs heard five or six loud banging noises which shook their ceiling between 7.30pm and 8pm, the court heard.

The next morning at around 8am Wilson’s mother dialled 999 after receiving a phone call from her daughter.

Speaking to her mother, Wilson said: ‘I just got him out the cot. He was fine when he went to bed. he’s lifeless and not doing anything. He’s making noises but I don’t know.’

Paramedics noticed bruises above his left eye and on the side of his mouth.

Mr Dunkels said that Wilson had been unable to put forward a ‘plausible explanation’ for the injuries.

‘Callum was in her sole care at her flat throughout that 13 hour period and nothing she has said can explain what has happened to him.

‘The effect of the injuries would have been immediate and catastrophic.’

Wilson, of Windsor, denies murder.