DANIELLE MASSEY CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER AFTER CHILTON BABY DROWNING INCIDENT

A tragic incident in Chilton has resulted in the death of a seven-month-old baby boy, Charlie Goodall, who drowned in a bath while under the care of his mother, Danielle Massey. The heartbreaking event occurred at their residence in West Chilton Terrace, Chilton, and has led to Massey being sentenced to seven years in prison.

According to court proceedings, Charlie was left unattended in an unstable bath seat, which was not properly secured. Massey, aged 31, was reportedly playing a game on her phone during the time her son was in the bath. The court heard that Charlie fell over in the seat, which contributed to his drowning. Massey admitted to the court that she was responsible for not ensuring the bath seat was correctly fixed, which she acknowledged was a significant factor in the tragedy.

The incident was brought to light when police responded to a call at the family’s home in West Chilton Terrace on February 16, 2022. When officers arrived, they found Charlie unresponsive in the bath. Despite efforts to revive him, he was declared dead at the scene. The court was informed that Massey had pleaded guilty to manslaughter, accepting her role in the child's death.

During the trial, Massey also admitted to possessing cannabis and revealed that she had smoked a joint on the day Charlie died. She denied intentionally leaving her son unattended for an extended period, claiming she had only briefly left the bathroom to retrieve a towel from upstairs. She explained that she then went back downstairs, where she needed to sit on the sofa to catch her breath due to her asthma, and that she closed her eyes momentarily.

However, evidence presented during the case painted a different picture. Digital data showed that Massey had been using a cooking game app on her phone for approximately 26 minutes during the time her son was alone in the bath. Massey argued that she was not actively playing the game at the time of the incident, claiming it was running in the background. Nonetheless, a Newton hearing was conducted, and the judge rejected her account, concluding that she was awake and active when her son was drowning in another room.

Mr. Justice Goss delivered the verdict, stating that Massey had provided