'Stop mummy. Stop daddy': Screams of 21-month-old girl, 'stamped to death by her parents'

A 21-MONTH-OLD girl was heard screaming "stop mummy, stop daddy" just days before she was stamped to death by one of her parents, a court heard.

Mum Kathryn Smith, 23, and her partner Matthew Rigby, 22, are accused of murdering their daughter Ayeeshia Jane Smith.

A court heard the tragic tot died from a laceration to her heart that was caused by a powerful foot stamp on her chest, which triggered a cardiac arrest.

Ayeeshia had only been returned to Smith six months before her death on May 1, 2014, having previously been taken into care by social services.

The youngster was also found with other injuries including a large bruise to her back and buttocks, bruising to her head, neck, left eyelid and left leg.

The pair - who have since split up - deny murdering the toddler at their home in Stretton, Burton-upon-Trent, Staffs.

Birmingham Crown Court heard Smith called 999 at around 4pm on May 1, 2014, and told an operator Ayeeshia was barely breathing.

The youngster was declared dead at 5pm at Burton's Queen's Hospital where the couple told doctors Ayeeshia had suffered a seizure.

Prosecutor Christopher Hotten said a post-mortem examination revealed she had suffered a fatal wound to her heart and had three broken ribs.

He added: "The likely mechanism was a forceful stamp to her chest as she lay down."

On Tuesday neighbor Tracey Roberts told the jury she frequently heard arguing and loud noises coming from the couple's flat in Britannia Drive, in Burton-on-Trent.

She said: "I heard what sounded like an argument, and screaming, then I heard what I thought was a child's voice.

"It was a short, different voice, and sounded young. I could hear the voice say 'stop mummy, stop daddy' and sounded upset."

The court also heard Smith made three 999 calls to the police in the weeks leading up to the death of her daughter Ayeeshia.

She called the police at 9.27pm on March 11, and at around 5am and 7am on April 4, 2014.

During the 5am call Smith told the 999 responder that her partner, Rigby, was going to cut himself and blame her.

Later, Smith told police: "He is getting me killed within a week."

PC Jonathan Minshull, of Staffordshire Police, revealed during a visit to the flat he had been told by Smith that Rigby had made threats to kill her and had damaged Ayeeshia's cot by setting fire to it.

Smith and Rigby, both from Nottingham, deny murder, causing or allowing the death of a child and cruelty to a child.

The trial continues. We will keep you updated.