DAVEY EVERSION AND KIRSTY BURDETT SHOCK RICKMANSWORTH WITH BABY'S BRUTAL MURDER

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, and the surrounding areas, a young man named Davey Everson has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of his girlfriend's three-month-old daughter, Millie-Rose Burdett. The tragic events unfolded over the course of her short life, marked by a series of injuries and neglect that ultimately led to her death in January 2019.

Millie-Rose was admitted to Watford General Hospital on December 15, 2018, suffering from multiple fractures, bruising, and a bleed on her brain. Despite medical intervention, she remained in a coma and was transferred to King’s College Hospital in London, where she succumbed to her injuries on January 11, 2019. The court heard that her injuries were the result of sustained abuse, with evidence pointing towards violent shaking and throwing against surfaces, inflicted by Everson during a period when he was alone with the infant.

Everson, aged 23 and residing on Haselbury Road in Edmonton, London, had begun a relationship with Kirsty Burdett, 25, of Nightingale Road in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, while she was pregnant with Millie-Rose. The court was told that Everson was not the biological father but had expressed a desire to be a paternal figure to the child. However, social services and witnesses described his behavior as heavy-handed and rough, including causing bruising to Millie-Rose’s face during feeding and being referred for parenting classes due to concerns about his suitability as a caregiver.

During the trial at St Albans Crown Court, prosecutors presented evidence that Everson had inflicted multiple injuries on the infant, including 12 fractured ribs, two broken legs, and a severe brain injury. The jury was informed that the brain injury was likely caused by shaking or throwing her against a surface, and that the fractures of varying ages indicated ongoing abuse. Witnesses, including family members and health professionals, recounted seeing Everson’s frustration and violence, with one witness describing an incident where he shoved a bottle into Millie-Rose’s mouth so forcefully that it caused her to bleed.

Meanwhile, Kirsty Burdett was found guilty of causing or allowing her daughter’s death. The court heard that she failed to take reasonable steps to protect Millie-Rose and had covered up for Everson’s actions. She was convicted of causing or allowing the death and received a six-year prison sentence. Additionally, both Everson and Burdett received sentences for cruelty to a person under 16, involving another child, with Everson receiving four months and Burdett two months.

Judge Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb described the case as a “sustained assault on a small baby,” emphasizing that Everson’s actions caused her “acute and lasting pain for half of her short life.” She also noted that Everson was “riled” by Millie-Rose’s resemblance to her biological father, which appeared to have contributed to his violent behavior. The court’s verdict highlighted the tragic failure of both defendants to protect a vulnerable infant from harm, with the evidence revealing a pattern of abuse, neglect, and deception that ultimately led to her death.

Senior Crown Prosecutor Rebecca Waller condemned the defendants’ actions, stating, “This is a tragic case of a defenceless infant who suffered horrendous treatment at the hands of a violent man and was failed by her mother, who had a duty to protect her from harm. Both defendants repeatedly lied about Millie-Rose’s injuries, but medical evidence has helped us uncover the truth and secure justice for her.” The case has left the community of Rickmansworth and Hertfordshire mourning the loss of a young life stolen by violence and neglect, prompting calls for increased awareness and protective measures for vulnerable children in the area.