Father Jailed for 14 Years Over Death of 14-Week-Old Baby Daughter
Christopher Easey, 31, from Ely Road, Little Thetford, was today sentenced to 14 years in prison for the manslaughter of his 14-week-old daughter, Eleanor. Norwich Crown Court also handed him a concurrent one-year sentence for child cruelty.
Manslaughter Conviction After Baby’s Tragic Death
Easey denied murder but was found guilty of manslaughter by a jury on 30 March 2022, following a 10-week trial. He was also convicted of child cruelty. His co-defendant and Eleanor’s mother, Carly Easey, 36, received a 12-month community order after being found guilty of child cruelty by a jury at an earlier hearing.
Horrific Injuries Reveal Shocking Abuse
Eleanor was rushed to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital on 18 December 2019 after being discovered unresponsive at home. She was later transferred to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, where devastating tests showed she suffered catastrophic brain injuries caused by repeated severe head trauma – consistent with non-accidental shaking or impact.
The Home Office post-mortem revealed multiple brain bleeds, retinal haemorrhages, broken ribs and fractured bones, plus malnourishment. These injuries were described as the result of shaking and impact. Tragically, Eleanor died two days later on 20 December 2019.
Parents’ Shocking Neglect and Lies Exposed
- Health visitors noted bruises and scratches on Eleanor’s face. Carly falsely blamed an ill-fitting car seat and self-inflicted scratches.
- Friends and family told police the couple fed Eleanor custard cream biscuits and lemon cheesecake, gave her squash to drink, and sometimes left her home alone.
- Police found no evidence of a car incident despite Christopher’s claim that sudden braking caused Eleanor’s head injury.
- Carly had concealed her pregnancy and could not explain most of Eleanor’s injuries during interviews.
Both parents were initially arrested for assault. Following the post-mortem, they faced murder charges. However, prosecutors later dropped murder charges against Carly, as evidence showed she was not present when the fatal brain injury occurred.
Detective Condemns Father’s “Unconditional Neglect”
“Chris Easey has been found guilty of killing his baby daughter. It is heartbreaking that she died at the hands of the man who should have cared for her. Sadly, little Eleanor was neglected throughout her brief life. Investigating this tragic case was deeply emotional, and its memory will stay with us for a long time,” said Detective Inspector Lewis Craske, who led the Norfolk and Suffolk Major Investigation Team.
