A father has been charged with the murder of his six-year-old daughter after allegedly vigorously shaking her as a newborn, leaving her profoundly disabled and in constant pain, a court has heard.
Background: Newborn Injured After Domestic Dispute
The Old Bailey trial heard how Primrose, who was just three weeks old at the time, was living with her father, Kyle Kitchen, 38, and mother, Kenzey Kane, 31, in North London when she sustained a catastrophic brain injury in November 2014.
Jurors were told that the couple’s relationship was frequently volatile, and Kane had called 111 in distress, reporting that the newborn had gone floppy and would not wake up after making odd movements and sounds during the night.
During a domestic row prior to the emergency call, Kitchen had allegedly slapped Kane repeatedly while she was holding their crying baby, the court heard.
Later, Kitchen Googled “baby won’t wake up” before calling emergency services. Paramedics found the infant unresponsive and rushed her to the Royal Free Hospital, where scans revealed she had a skull fracture and a severe brain injury.
Her parents allegedly offered no explanation for her condition, with Kane reportedly telling doctors:
“It’s not like we knocked her or anything.”
Previous Conviction for Grievous Bodily Harm
In a 2015 trial at Blackfriars Crown Court, Kitchen was convicted of two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent for the skull fracture and shaking injuries.
Kane was found guilty of causing or allowing serious injury to a child by failing to protect Primrose.
Kitchen was sentenced to 18 years in prison, later reduced to 15 years on appeal. He served half his sentence and was automatically released before being re-arrested and charged with murder.
Kane was jailed for three and a half years for child cruelty.
The Impact on Primrose’s Life
Following her injury, Primrose suffered from:
- Cerebral palsy
- Severe feeding issues
- An inability to communicate verbally
- Drug-resistant epilepsy
By 2016, her condition was deemed so severe that a do-not-resuscitate order was implemented.
Despite her challenges, Primrose attended a special school in Plumstead, South-East London, where she was described by her headteacher as “characterful”.
Her Death at Age Six
On the night of May 16, 2021, Primrose was sleeping in a bed with her maternal grandmother, Maria Kane, as she usually did.
At 5 a.m., Maria woke up and noticed that the child’s breathing had stopped.
Paramedics arrived shortly after but were unable to revive her, and she was pronounced dead at 5:23 a.m.
A post-mortem examination concluded that her death was directly caused by the traumatic brain injury she suffered as an infant.
Murder Trial Begins
Now, Kitchen is facing a murder charge, with prosecutors arguing that his previous conviction for grievous bodily harm with intent proves his guilt.
Prosecutor Jennifer Knight KC told the jury:
“Kyle Kitchen’s convictions prove that he is guilty, not merely of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, but of murder.”
Kitchen denies murder, and the trial continues at the Old Bailey.
