Jury out in Plymouth Christopher and Charlotte Sheldon baby cruelty case

A JURY has retired to consider its verdicts in the trial of a mother and father accused of assaulting their baby.

The panel of eight women and four men began their deliberations yesterday afternoon in the case of Christopher and Charlotte Sheldon.

Each is accused of assaulting and neglecting their son Ethan in the first four months of his life. He was found to have broken bones and bruises after a routine call by a health visitor in October 2010.

Both Christopher, aged 32, and 24-year-old Charlotte blame each other for causing the injuries. They are now separated and going through divorce proceedings.

Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk

myprint-247

View details

Print voucher

Our heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.

Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk

Contact: 01858 468192

Valid until: Sunday, May 26 2013

Christopher Sheldon, of Bridgetown, Totnes, and Charlotte Sheldon, of Sefton Avenue, Lipson, each deny two charges. Each is accused of "ill-treating or assaulting" Ethan between his birth in May 2010 and that October.

The pair are also charged with "neglect or exposing" him between the same dates in failing to seek medical attention.

Judge Paul Darlow finishing his summing up yesterday told the jury: "This is an important case from Ethan's point of view and from Christopher Sheldon's and Charlotte Sheldon's points of view. You must not feel rushed in delivering your verdicts. You will have all the time you reasonably need."