Man found not guilty of preventing burial of two babies
A man has been found not guilty of preventing the decent burial of two babies at a home in south Wales.
Zilvinas Ledovskis, 50, of Phoebe Road in Swansea, was due to face trial charged with two counts of concealing the birth of a child and two counts of preventing the lawful and decent burial of a dead body.
Following a review of the evidence, Mr Ledovskis was found not guilty at a hearing before Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday, after the prosecution said it would be presenting no evidence against him.
Egle Zilinskaite, 31, Mr Ledovskis' former partner, pleaded guilty to the charges in April last year.
Zilinskaite, of Crwys Road in Cardiff, is due to be sentenced later this year.
Addressing Mr Ledovskis, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, the Recorder of Cardiff, said: 'The prosecution has offered no evidence against you and accordingly I direct not guilty verdicts to be entered.
'That concludes the proceedings so far as you are concerned.'
The charges relate to the discovery of two babies at an end-of-terrace home in Maes-Y-Felin, Wildmill, Bridgend, in November 2022.
The two children, previously referred to as Baby A and Baby B in court, died some time between January 1 2017 and November 26 2022.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
Children convicted of prostitution when they were victims of grooming gangs could have criminal records quashed
CHILDREN convicted of prostitution when they were victims of grooming gangs could have their criminal records quashed. The law has changed to recognise that under-18s in these cases were sexually exploited themselves. 2 Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told the Home Affairs Select Committee yesterday: 'The law has changed but there are still people who have been convicted of crimes where they were being exploited, they were the victim of the most horrendous exploitation and they were children. 'Although the law has changed now around prostitution laws, the idea of treating somebody who was a child as a prostitute when they were being exploited, when they were the victim of the most horrendous exploitation including sexual exploitation and rape I think is wrong. 'The law has changed, we now need to look at the action we need to take to make sure that those historic cases are addressed and people don't carry round those criminal records for the rest of their lives for outdated laws and for things that happened in their childhood when they were being exploited.' The Home Secretary had asked all police forces in England and Wales to review historic cases which had been closed with no further action taken. As a result almost 300 cases have been referred to a national taskforce to be reexamined. The Government has refused to open a full national inquiry into grooming gangs, such as those uncovered in Rochdale and Rotherham. Instead, at least five local inquiries will take place to establish why and how children were able to be sexually exploited. 2
Daily Record
4 hours ago
- Daily Record
Sport star's 'beautiful' daughter 'dismissed multiple times' before death
Amy James died a day after being admitted to hospital. The daughter of a cricket star was "dismissed" by doctors multiple times before she died in hospital. Amy James died a day after being admitted to hospital, an inquest has heard. The 21-year-old, daughter of former England cricketer Steve James, was admitted to hospital on February 8, 2020. She passed away on February 9. Ex-Glamorgan star James, a highly respected sports journalist, was covering Wales' Six Nations match in Ireland when she took seriously ill. Weather delays meant he was unable to return home to see her before she died. Today, an inquest into her death opened on Tuesday at Pontypridd coroner's court. Wales Online reports it heard how Bethan had visited hospital on several occasions prior to February 8. Her doting mother, Jane James, told the inquest that her daughter was 'dismissed' by multiple medics and that 'her life could have been saved'. Speaking in person at the inquest Jane James described Bethan as a 'caring' and 'beautiful' person who always put others before herself. She explained that Bethan had suffered with gastrointestinal issues throughout most of her life, before she was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2019 at the age of 20. Mrs James said her daughter took her diagnosis with 'great maturity'. Prior to her death Mrs James said Bethan had been studying journalism at the University of South Wales. She dreamed of being a voice for those with Crohn's and related illnesses. It was heard how Bethan had started a vlog account where she documented her experience of the condition, before she became involved in a BBC documentary with Amy Dowden, who is also diagnosed with the condition. The documentary sadly aired after Bethan's death. The programme was dedicated to her memory. Paying tribute to her daughter Mrs James said: "As a person she never moaned, she never made a fuss. She was very caring. She was just beautiful. She put people before herself. She was more interested in other people and their stories and I think that's why she would have made a brilliant journalist." Mrs James told the inquest about the heartbreaking events that led up to her daughter's death. She explained how on Saturday, January 25, 2020 her daughter had been out in town with a friend when she complained of feeling tired and having shortness of breath. Mrs James said they decided to book her daughter in for an emergency appointment with her GP on Monday, January 27. The inquest heard that her GP, Dr Jonathan Carnell, was concerned about Bethan and set up an urgent referral at Llandough hospital for her respiratory symptoms to be investigated. It was heard that discharge summary notes from the appointment on January 28 read that Bethan was likely suffering from 'community acquired pneumonia'. She was given antibiotics and discharged. However, Mrs James said this diagnosis was not verbally relayed to her or her daughter by medics at the hospital. She said: "They didn't tell her 'community acquired pneumonia'. We sat in the waiting area and they said they think she may have a chest infection and that she should take antibiotics as a precaution." She added that if the word 'pneumonia' had been used it would have struck the family as more sinister in that early stage of her illness developing. The following day, on Tuesday, Mrs James said her daughter was determined to go to university to deliver a presentation that was important to her. Bethan was well enough to drive herself to university, but was 'absolutely exhausted' by the time she got home, it was heard. She developed numbness in her right arm and continued feeling short of breath, the inquest was told. Over the next few days Bethan developed more symptoms including involuntary movements in her right arm and difficulties using her right arm and hand. It was heard how she struggled to hold a cup and had problems holding her arm above her head. In addition it was heard how Bethan was suffering abdominal pain and nausea to the point of being unable to 'tolerate food '. 'On Tuesday she could drive, and by Sunday she couldn't hold a cup in her hand,' Mrs James told the inquest. Due to her worsening symptoms Mrs James said she took her daughter to accident and emergency (A&E) at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff on Sunday, February 2. Mrs James said she clearly remembers the day, including telling the triage nurse about the previous appointment in Llandough. In response, she said the nurse was 'abrupt' which upset her daughter. She explained how Bethan was seen by one particular doctor who was 'dismissive' of her chest symptoms. She said he did not think it was of 'any significance'. She said he spoke to A&E consultant Dr Chen Wen Ngua for advice as well as to neurology registrar Dr Mark Willis. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. It was heard how the outcome of this hospital trip was that Bethan's symptoms were likely the result of a hemiplegic migraine. Mrs James said: 'I don't feel on the 2nd that they fully assessed her.' Mrs James became emotional when she described how on Monday, February 3, her daughter had collapsed because she was 'so exhausted' from being at hospital. Following this Mrs James said an ambulance was called and although paramedics arrived her daughter said she did not want to go to hospital, having felt dismissed by various medics and exhausted by the hours of waiting around she had already endured. It was heard how paramedics noted that Bethan's heart rate was high, but that she couldn't be forced to go to hospital. Two days later, on Wednesday, February 5, Bethan's symptoms persisted in her right arm, and she had also developed numbness and issues with her right leg. Myself and my husband knew we needed to do something to try and find out what was going on,' Mrs James told the inquest. She said they took her back to A&E at the University Hospital of Wales. During this visit Mrs James said they encountered Dr Ngua for the second time. She described him as "very, very dismissive" of her daughter and recalled that he told her daughter words to the effect of: 'You again! You were here on Sunday.' He said on reflection Bethan's high heart rate could have been investigated further. Mrs James said while in the hospital waiting area a medic came and did an observation of her daughter. During this, she explained how her heart rate appeared unusually high. Mrs James said the medic assumed that the machine was broken, but that the family believe it was more likely that Bethan was being dismissed and that her heart rate really was that high. Coroner Patricia Morgan asked Mrs James whether she thinks her daughter should have been admitted at this point. 'Definitely,' she said. 'She was so unwell. They didn't appreciate how unwell she was.' Mrs James added that it was only when she threatened to contact health board seniors that medics agreed to arrange a follow up appointment with neurology. Meanwhile, Bethan could 'barely walk out of the hospital,' she said. The family was advised to return to the hospital the following morning for the neurology referral, Mrs James said. However, upon their arrival she said there was 'no record' of the referral appointment and that medics had 'no idea' why they were there. She described this as 'appalling'. Mrs James said: 'Again her heart rate was off the scale and they said the machine was not working - it probably was just her heart rate and it was dismissed again.' Mrs James added that throughout the assessment, which was with Dr Willis, her daughter's respiratory symptoms were not investigated. She noted a comment made by Mr Willis that she found inappropriate during the assessment. She said: 'He said he had seen a 17-year-old girl with similar symptoms and that she is now symptom free and fine. I have no idea how he could say this to Bethan without diagnosing her.' She said Dr Willis did organise for blood tests to happen that day, but that Bethan was so dehydrated by the time that these came about that medics could not draw blood. Bethan was advised to get these done at her GP instead. Mrs James added: 'I felt they just wanted Bethan out of there as soon as possible.' Speaking during the inquest Dr Willis said he made the comment in an attempt to show compassion and reassure Mrs James. He added: 'I'm sorry to hear Mrs James feels she wasn't listened to.' Answering questions from the family's advocate, Richard Booth, Dr Willis said it was unusual for neurology assessments to result in hospital admission. He said when examining Bethan he found only mild weakness in her right arm. He addressed that neurological symptoms of the nature experienced by Bethan were rare in cases of sepsis. On Saturday, February 8, Mrs James said her daughter had been in bed all afternoon. By the afternoon she said she was watching rugby with her daughter and trying to encourage her to eat. By 4pm Mrs James said her daughter 'looked dreadful' with bags under her eyes and nails so pale she thought she was wearing white nail polish. On a number of occasions Mrs James recalled asking if she could call for an ambulance, but in response her daughter reiterated that Dr Willis said she would soon be fine. However, she called 999 that evening. The first person to arrive was a rapid response paramedic named Paul Humphries. Mrs James said Mr Humphries could not record Bethan's blood pressure properly. In hindsight Mrs James said she now knows this is a sign of sepsis. She said the 'signs' of sepsis were 'right in front' of Mr Humphries. The inquest heard how initially Mr Humphries called for a P3 ambulance response, which refers to a low priority. He later escalated this to a P2. Mrs James said: 'I don't know why someone doesn't get a P1 when they are so unwell.' Speaking during the inquest Mr Humphries said in hindsight he believes he dealt with Bethan appropriately. He added: 'I didn't come away from that incident thinking I did a bad job.' When the ambulance turned up Mrs James said she didn't sense any 'rush' to get her daughter to hospital. She finally arrived at 7.45pm following a 12 minute journey, it was heard. Mrs James described that on arrival at the University Hospital of Wales they had to wait in the ambulance outside the hospital for some time. She said they 'now know' there was a bed available, claiming her daughter wasn't 'deemed unwell enough' to have it. At 8.10pm Ms James was triaged before she went down to resus at 9.15pm. Mrs James said it occurred to her that her daughter was only at this point going down to where she needed to be to receive help, some three hours after the ambulance had been called. She described there being 'chaos' at the hospital as medics struggled to administer a line into Bethan, and with nobody clearly in charge of her care. Mrs James said she believes it should have been administered in her daughter's neck instead for easier access, or that she should have been taken down to intensive care. All the while this was ongoing Mrs James said her daughter was awake, could 'hardly breathe' and was 'so scared'. After some time Mrs James said an anaesthetist came down and Bethan was put to sleep. Mrs James said she felt that with that her daughter's body lost its ability to fight. She said she was asked to leave at around 9.25pm before she was told her daughter had a cardiac arrest. She recalled being told medics were working on Bethan and if she wanted to be with her as she passed away. 'As soon as I walked in, I knew she was dead,' Mrs James said. She commented that a sepsis protocol should have been put in place early on. She said her daughter 'should have had the right care straight away'. She added: 'It's heartbreaking as a mum to know that her life could have been saved. They didn't know what they were doing.' The inquest continues.
The Independent
5 hours ago
- The Independent
Nearly 300 historic child grooming gang cases to be looked at again
Hundreds of historic child sex abuse cases could be re-opened after police forces carried out reviews ordered by the Home Secretary to tackle grooming gangs. Some 287 closed cases have been identified so far by police to be looked at again by a national task force on child sexual exploitation, Yvette Cooper told a committee of MPs on Tuesday. In January, the Home Secretary urged chief constables in England and Wales to reopen cold case investigations, as she also announced a rapid review by Baroness Casey to look at the nature and scale of gang-based exploitation across the country. Ms Cooper has also vowed for at least five local inquiries to take place, including in Oldham, Greater Manchester where work is 'under way already'. The series of announcements to tackle child grooming gangs came as the Government faced pressure over the issue, including criticism from billionaire X owner Elon Musk. Ms Cooper told the Home Affairs Select Committee half of police forces have reported back to the Home Office after reviewing past investigations. 'As you will know, I have also always said the most important thing is to get perpetrators behind bars and to make sure that they face justice for these horrendous crimes,' she said. 'I did ask all police forces to review historic cases. 'We've asked them to review cases that were closed, where no further action was taken and where there are cases, to then work with the police child sexual exploitation task force … which has considerable expertise, to then review those cases and to look to reopen and pursue any new lines of inquiry that have not been properly pursued.' Of half of the forces who have reported back, she said: 'For those forces, 287 historic cases have been identified for review by the police child sexual exploitation task force.' The move comes after the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), led by Professor Alexis Jay, found institutional failings and tens of thousands of victims across England and Wales. The seven-year probe made 20 recommendations in the final report published in 2022, as it described child sexual abuse as an 'epidemic' across the two nations. The Government had knocked back calls for a national review in favour of locally led inquiries, saying it was focused on implementing recommendations from Prof Jay's report. Ms Cooper also told the committee Baroness Casey has asked for a short extension to complete the national audit, before the Government can set out next steps for local inquiries and how they will run. 'Once the Casey review and the Casey audit has reported back to us, we will set out those next steps, both about how we will then expect local inquiries to be taken forward, and also the funding support that we will give,' she said. It was previously announced a funding pot of £5 million would be available for local authorities to support locally led work on grooming gangs.
