Mother cleared of daughter murder

A mother from Cambridgeshire has been found not guilty of murdering her seven-week-old daughter.

Jurors at Ipswich Crown Court heard Leeya Akinrele suffered a skull fracture and bites to her face and hands before she died in December 2006.

Kelly Inman, 22, of Whittlesey, who denied murder, was also cleared of causing the baby's death.

The jury is yet to reach a verdict on Leeya's father, Olusola Akinrele, 34, who denies murder.

He has also denied causing or allowing his daughter's death.

Brain damage

The court heard Leeya was born on 7 November 2006 and on 18 December paramedics were called to the family home, where she was apparently lifeless.

Leeya died 12 days later when doctors decided that there was no prospect of recovery and switched off her life support machine.

Prosecutors said evidence showed that Leeya had been repeatedly assaulted and suffered brain damage, as well as injuries including a fractured thigh, ribs and fingers.

The jury will continue its deliberations on Thursday.