Nursery worker, 22, admits manslaughter after 14-month-old boy dies in her care

Daily Mail​

2 days ago

A 22-year-old nursery worker has admitted manslaughter after a 14-month old baby died in her care.
Kimberley Cookson pleaded guilty to one count of gross negligence manslaughter following the death of Noah Sibanda, who died after an incident at Dudley's Fairytales Day Nursery on December 9, 2022.
The youngster, who had not yet learned how to properly walk, was rushed to hospital but all attempts to save him were futile.
His mother Masi Sibanda, 31, described him as a 'handsome, beautiful, cute boy' who was very 'lovable' and always smiling.
'I know parents are biased, but he was so beautiful,' she said in a heartfelt tribute following his death.
'He was calm, very relaxed and quite chilled and unfazed by things. We would find him just chilling with his arm behind his head. He was very easy-going and he made it easy as a first-time parent.'
Cookson, who wore a green shirt, appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Tuesday and was told she would likely face trial in 2026.
Deborah Latewood, 54, who was the director and business owner, appeared alongside Cookson in the dock. The courtroom was packed with members of Noah's family and supporters of the defendants.
Latewood pleaded not guilty to failing to comply with a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act to ensure that Noah and others were not exposed to risk between November 29 and December 9 2022.
A plea of not guilty was entered on behalf of the firm which ran the now-closed nursery, based in Bourne Street, to one count of corporate manslaughter, including an alleged failure to ensure that children in the baby room were put down to sleep in a safe way, failure to ensure that staff were adequately trained to put babies down to sleep and failure to ensure staff were adequately supervised while doing so.
The company also pleaded not guilty to failing to comply with a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act to ensure that Noah and others were not exposed to risk between November 29 and December 9 2022.
Cookson and Latewood spoke only to confirm their date of birth and to enter their pleas in front of the courtroom.
Judge Michael Chambers KC said Latewood and the company would face a trial.
He said this would likely to be in 2026, but did not set a date.
Cookson will be sentenced upon conclusion of the trial, which is expected to last three weeks.
Both Cookson and Latewood were released on unconditional bail until the next hearing.
Judge Chambers said: 'In your case, Kimberley Cookson, you have had the courage to plead guilty and will get the appropriate credit for that plea.
'I am adjourning your sentencing until the conclusion of the trial, so the judge will have all the facts of the case.'
He warned both defendants that if they did not appear for their trial, they could face further criminal proceedings.
A pre-trial review hearing was set for December 5.