WOMAN CONVICTED OF CHILD CRUELTY AFTER BOYFRIEND MURDERS HER BABY
Lucci Smith was the mother of Teddie Smith, an 11-week-old infant.At age 30, Smith resided in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, with her boyfriend Mitchell, who was 32, as well as her family, including her young son Teddie.
Mitchell, who was not Teddie’s biological father, was responsible for killing the baby in November 2019 and was found to have inflicted a series of injuries from the moment of Teddie’s birth.
It was reported that Smith was on her way to school when the fatal injuries occurred, but she did not seek medical help until approximately 30 minutes after the incident.
Teddie suffered injuries that indicated he had been tightly gripped, shaken violently, and struck against a hard surface.
In police interviews, Smith was asked how her son sustained these injuries and responded with “no idea,” denying any involvement in covering for her partner.
She also stated that she would have told authorities if any violence had been directed at Teddie, emphasising that “he’s my son at the end of the day and he means more to me than anybody.” Further questioning involved her relationship with Mitchell, which she initially claimed was not abusive.
Court proceedings revealed that Smith cared deeply for her son and loved him, describing Mitchell as an overly controlling partner.
In February, Smith was found guilty of child cruelty but was acquitted of charges related to causing or permitting the child’s death and injury at Cambridge Crown Court.
The judge imposed a two-year community order, noting her prior time spent in custody before her trial.
This community order is set to last until 2023.
Both Smith and Mitchell have been prohibited from having contact with children.
