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Greater Manchester dad found not guilty of murdering two-week-old baby daughter
After days of deliberations, the jury found him not guilty.
A dad from Greater Manchester who was accused of murdering his two-week-old baby daughter has been found not guilty by a jury.
Darin Harvey, 26, of Birch Road, in Wardle, was accused of shaking his baby daughter Felicity-May Harvey at the home he shared with his fiancée and the baby’s mother on Stirling Place, Heywood, on January 8th, 2021. He denied the offence.
After almost a week of deliberations the jury found Mr Harvey not guilty of murder, or of manslaughter.
During the two-week trial at Bolton Crown Court, prosecutors alleged that Felicity had suffered ‘catastrophic’ injuries after being shaken with an ‘abusive level of force’.
As reported in The Manchester Evening News, the prosecution, led by Tim Storrie KC, pointed to ‘inconsistent’ accounts Mr Harvey first gave to the police following his arrest in January 2021, compared to what he said to the jury at the trial.
The prosecution said he went to see Felicity soon after his fiancée, Heather Connolly, had left the property just after 2pm, shaking her after going to feed her.
However, Mr Harvey consistently denied this, saying he was in the toilet until just before 2.30pm.
He added that he went into the bedroom around 2.28pm, picked up Felicity — who was born with a cleft lip and palette — with ‘no concerns’ before looking at her and noticing she was ‘blue’ with her eyes rolling in her head.
Soon after he called Ms Connolly, who was ‘luckily’ outside the house at the time, before they called the emergency services who rushed the baby to hospital.
Felicity tragically died three days later on January 11th at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.
In evidence, Mr Harvey said it was the ‘God’s honest truth’ that he did not kill his daughter.
Defending Mr Harvey, James Mulholland KC asked him questions about the events of January 8th, with Mr Harvey saying: “The world stopped at that moment” – as he noticed something was wrong with Felicity.
Mr Harvey added: “I wanted to help police and tell them everything I could. They wouldn’t accept anything I was saying.
“I was scared and petrified, I was being bombarded with questions… the pressure was immense. I had no choice but to give them answers.
“The pressure and the way they were making me feel, I was just talking and talking and just spoke when I didn’t know an answer, I wasn’t lying, I just didn’t remember.” Mr Mulholland asked the defendant if he shook Felicity-May. Mr Harvey replied: “Hand on my heart, no.”
In cross-examination Mr Harvey told the jury: “I didn’t shake her, I will say that until I’ve gone blue, I will put that on my gravestone. They [police] took advantage of a broken man. I’m telling you I did not shake her. I don’t know how many times I have to say this.
“All I could think about was my baby… my heart was ripped into pieces, which the police couldn’t care less about in those interviews. I was not trying to con the police at all, I wanted to help but they were practically torturing me.”
Mr Harvey went on to accuse the baby’s mother, Ms Connolly, of causing Felicity the fatal injuries.
He said: “She knew what she had done. She knew she fed her, she told two people she had fed her and something [has] gone wrong… she panicked and shook her. There’s no other explanation — that’s what happened.”
After days of deliberations the jury was given directions by judge Robert Bright KC that they could make a majority verdict — returning a few hours later. Gasps of relief could be heard from the public gallery as the jury foreman delivered the not guilty verdicts.
Coronation Street legend Julie Goodyear, who played Bet Lynch, has been diagnosed with dementia, her husband has revealed.
The 81-year-old who played the iconic pub landlady of the Rovers Return on the show sought medical advice after ‘suffering forgetfulness’ but there was now ‘no hope of a reversal in the situation’, her husband Scott Brand said.
He shared news of her diagnosis in a statement, writing: “My darling wife and I have had to come to terms with this heart-breaking diagnosis.
“Unfortunately, Julie has been suffering forgetfulness for some time and we have been seeking medical advice and assistance, but we now know that there is no hope of a reversal in the situation — and that her condition will get progressively, and perhaps speedily, worse.
“We have taken the decision to publicly announce the diagnosis as Julie still loves visiting friends and eating out.
“Inevitably she is recognised, and fans love to meet her – and she them – but she can get confused particularly if she is tired. I hope people will understand.”
Goodyear played the leopard-skin-wearing, big-haired barmaid on the cobbles from 1966 to 2003.
Thanks to Goodyear, Bet Lynch became one of the ITV soap opera’s longest-serving and best-loved characters.
The iconic actress also appeared on reality shows such as Celebrity Big Brother and Celebrity Fit Club.
News
Tragedy as police find body of missing man last seen leaving pub
Police have confirmed the body as being Christopher
Police have confirmed a body has been tragically found in the search for a missing man in Marple.
Christopher Barlow, 31, was last seen shortly after 1am on Sunday, June 4th after leaving the Royal Oak pub in Mellor, Stockport.
He was last sighted turning left to walk along Brabyns Brow from Town Street.
Police officers and specialist teams searched a specific area beside the Peak Forest and remained at the scene after the tragic discovery on Tuesday, June 6th.
Greater Manchester Police have confirmed the body as being Christopher, and his family have been informed. A report is currently being prepared for the Coroner’s Office.
Detective Superintendent Helen Critchley, of GMP’s Stockport district, said: “Firstly, our thoughts are with Chris’s family and friends at this very distressing time.
“I would also like to thank the local community for their support with the search and the wider public for their assistance in sharing our appeal.”
According to The Manchester Evening News, on Monday evening (June 5th) the water search and marine unit, as well as a number of police vehicles and detectives were at the scene.
A large section of the canal was closed off to boats the next day as the search for Christopher continued.
Canal towpaths were also taped off as divers went into the water and officers searched nearby woodland.
News
Man to complete visiting every Wetherspoon pub in Britain and Ireland this week
Now he only has one final pub left to visit
A man will complete his visit to every Wetherspoon pub in Britain and Ireland this week as he sips his final pint to conclude his mission.
Most people like to see how far they can make it in a pub crawl but David Bingham, 60, decided to take it much further than that.
The Derbyshire man, who set out on the task in 2019, will conclude his journey of sipping a pint at all 875 Wetherspoon venues this week, including the 40 that have closed.
Now he only has one final pub left to visit, and he’s booked a flight at the South Terminal in Gatwick Airport in order to tick it off his long list.
The last of the boozers will be The Flying Horse, which is conveniently located right after security at the airport. Wetherspoons has praised his dedication.
Mr Bingham, from West Hallam, has said his other passions are trainspotting and following Burton Albion. He took on the challenge while also pursuing his other hobbies. Mr Bingham told the BBC: “If we were going somewhere new, I’d suss out the Wetherspoons.”
His partner Una Cooper bought him a directory of the pubs and he began ticking them off. “I’ve had a drink in most pubs, I’d say 85%,” he said.
“I’m a lager lad, definitely. The one in Ramsgate [in the Royal Victoria Pavilion] is my favourite because the history behind that building is incredible.
“But there are five police stations, there are churches, there’s chapels, there’s a tram depot, there’s a fire station.
“They just save these fantastic buildings. I love architecture and I love buildings. It’s a history lesson.”
Wetherspoon spokesman, Eddie Gershon, said: “We applaud David Bingham on his outstanding achievement.
“Many people love to visit Wetherspoon pubs across the UK and Ireland, but only a handful have visited each and every one. David will now join that select group.
“He has obviously put in a lot of time and effort into achieving his goal and we thank him for his dedication to our pubs.”
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