The trial of two people accused of murdering a two-year-old girl in a temporary housing block in Ipswich last summer began this week.

Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell and Scott Jeff appeared before Ipswich Crown Court this week charged with the murder of Gleason-Mitchell's daughter Isabella Wheildon, who was found dead at an address in Sidegate Lane on June 30, 2023.

They have denied murder.

The toddler's body was discovered after police were called to the Sidegate Lane Temporary Housing Unit shortly after 12pm.

The trial, which is expected to last between six and eight weeks, is being heard by High Court judge, The Hon. Mr Justice Neil Garnham.

Here is everything you need to know about what the court has heard so far.

Day one

Gleason-Mitchell and Jeff appeared before Ipswich Crown Court on Monday and both denied murdering Isabella Wheildon between June 26 and June 30 last year.

Jeff also denied causing or allowing the death of a child between June 26 and June 30 last year, as well as cruelty to a child under 16 in relation to cocaine and a similar offence in relation to cannabis.

Meanwhile, Gleason-Mitchell did admit to causing or allowing the death of a child and two offences of cruelty to a child under 16 in relation to cocaine and cannabis.

Day two

Ipswich Crown Court heard that Isabella suffered extensive bruising across her body, fractures to both her wrists and several fractures as a result of possible kicking or stamping.

Sally Howes KC, prosecuting, described the pair's relationship as "an escalating regime of brutality" and that “Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell, Isabella’s mother stood back and watched, did nothing and allowed this to happen".

The court also heard that the cause of Isabella’s death was bone marrow embolism caused by skeletal trauma and that she had been dead for several days when officers found her. 

Day three

Joanne Gardner, one of Gleason-Mitchell's friends, gave evidence and spoke about a message exchange on Facebook between them during the days around Isabella's death.

Miss Gardner told the court Gleason-Mitchell had sent a message saying she could no longer recognise her child, who was in her pram in the bathroom and that they had to "cover her up" and "she's going to start to smell".

Further messages from Gleason-Mitchell were read to the court: “I gonna be locked up for a very long time.

"Because they going to say I murder her because I left her dead in pram.”

Day four

The court heard a statement from Police Constable Ryan Wegg who attended the property on the day Isabella  was discovered. 

PC Wegg said that he was met with a “very strong stale smell” when he entered the flat on Sidegate Lane and he saw a pushchair with several blankets over it pushed into the shower.

After removing all of the blankets, he saw the face of a young child with extremely severe bruising to her face, the court heard.

PC Wegg described the arm of the child as very cold and hard to move and soon after he called paramedics who arrived and confirmed the death.

Day five

Dr John Hutchinson gave evidence of the post-mortem into Isabella's death. 

He said there was also evidence of a microscopic piece of bone marrow inside the girl’s lung which could potentially be due to skeletal trauma, the court heard.

The post-mortem also found there had been extensive bleeding in the soft tissue in the toddler's scalp and a haemorrhage within the soft tissues around the muscles of her neck.  

Both Gleason-Mitchell and Jeff deny murdering Isabella Wheildon and the trial will continue for an expected six to seven more weeks.