A British daycare manager has been found guilty of manslaughter in the death of a 9-month-old girl in her care.
According to BBC, Kate Roughley, 37, was convicted Monday at the Manchester Crown Court, after strapping Genevieve Meehan face down on a beanbag for 90 minutes, leading to her death. The incident happened at the Tiny Toes Day Nursery in Stockport on May 9, 2022, according to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
The court heard how Roughley discovered Meehan unresponsive at 3:12 p.m. after placing her in a restraint on the beanbag at 1:35 p.m.
CCTV footage showed Meehan crying and struggling, unable to move, while Roughley provided minimal supervision. Roughley later told police she checked on Meehan “at least every five minutes” after calling them to the daycare.
Roughley testified that the beanbag was commonly used for babies when the six cots in the daycare room were occupied. She said the restraint straps were meant to prevent babies from falling off and were not tight.
Meehan was taken to nearby Stepping Hill Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. An investigation revealed that she died of asphyxia and pathophysiological stress.
Peter Wright KC told the court that Roughley punished the victim “for her earlier perceived misdemeanours, for not sleeping long enough for her liking.”
“She was being banished to the beanbag and restrained. It was a recipe for disaster, and disaster there followed.”
CCTV footage captured Roughley telling a colleague that she placed Meehan on the beanbag to avoid “wasting a cot.” However, CPS stated in a release that Roughley exhibited “examples of ill-feeling” towards Meehan, calling her “vile” and ignoring her cries, The Guardian reports.
Roughly claimed she didn’t treat the victim any differently than the other children, adding that she had 17 years of childcare experience.
“I would never not like a nine-month-old baby,” she said
Roughley pleaded not guilty and insisted the incident was a “terrible, unavoidable accident.”
“We will never accept the cruelty of her life being taken away. She had her whole life to live and was loved so dearly by her family. Her life was full of promise and wonder and it was taken,” the victim’s parents said outside of the court, following the verdict.
“We will never forgive the callousness of Kate Roughley’s actions. She was entrusted with the care of our daughter yet she put her own convenience and selfish interests above Genevieve’s life. She treated our daughter with cruelty and contempt.”
Roughley is scheduled for sentencing on Wednesday.
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[Feature Photo: Genevieve Meehan/Manchester Greater Police]
