A two-year-old boy allegedly killed by his grandparents had a bleed on the brain caused by ‘repeated assaults’ and was ‘probably going to die’ despite efforts to save him, a court heard today.
Dr Jayaratnam Jayamohan told Mold Crown Court, north Wales, that Ethan Ives-Griffiths, two, had been ‘desperately ill’ when he was rushed to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool, on August 14, 2021.
Providing a report on the brain injuries Ethan suffered, Dr Jayamohan said the toddler had been in a coma and required emergency surgery for a bleed on the brain after being subject to ‘repeated assaults’ which left him with ‘traumatic’ injuries.
The doctor said that Ethan had potentially sustained both ‘an impact to the right side of the head or a shaking injury’ which left medics believing he was likely to die despite their attempts to save him.
Dr Jayamohan added: ‘This was a very hopeful operation. He was probably going to die but he’s a young boy so we will always try. Everything was stacked against him by this point.’
Prosecuting KC Caroline Rees said the discovery of old and fresh blood suggested there had been two events which caused bleeding in the brain. The doctor agreed and said there was ‘evidence Ethan has had repeated assaults’.
Ethan died in hospital on August 16, 2021, after his life support was stopped, and the prosecution have alleged he was murdered by his grandparents at their home.
Michael Ives, 47, and Kerry Ives, 46, both of Kingsley Road, Garden City, Flintshire, on the Wales – England border, deny murder, instead blaming the toddler’s mother, Shannon, 28.
Ethan Ives-Griffiths (above) had been ‘desperately ill’, was in a coma and required emergency surgery after being subject to ‘repeated assaults’ when he was rushed to hospital, Dr Jayaratnam Jayamohan told Mold Crown Court today
Grandfather Michael Ives, 47, (above, left) and grandmother Kerry Ives, 46, (above, right) are accused of murdering their grandson
Both grandparents deny murder, instead blaming the toddler’s mother, Shannon (above) – but the prosecution have said the mother was out of the room and not responsible for the fatal injuries
But the prosecution have said the mother was out of the room and not responsible for the fatal injuries.
The jury heard that Ethan had suffered a ‘catastrophic head and brain injury’, and the Home Office pathologist is alleged to have seen 40 injuries on his body.
The prosecution said there were cuts, grazes and bruises, and that Ethan was an ‘object of abuse and neglect’.
The grandparents and Shannon Ives, who was of Nant Garmon, Mold, have also pleaded not guilty to causing or allowing the tragedy, and cruelty between June 8, 2021, and August 17 that year.
The trial continues.
