Star Hobson, innocent of the murders by her husband and his partner, was cleared five times by social workers. They even declared a referral to them’malicious” the week before the killing.
Authorities fell for Frankie Smith (20), and Savannah Brockhill, 24, who lied, in spite of several concerns from relatives.
Star became so confused by all the abuse she suffered during an unannounced visit of a social worker to Keighley’s home last September 15, she decided to walk into a couch.
She suffered bruises to her face, shins and legs but Brockhill, a Bradford City Council employee believed Brockhill’s explanation.
In fact she was being ‘choke slammed’, swung by her leg and hit in the face by the twisted couple.
They called her a “brat” and made her stand in front of the wall during their cruel reign.
Star had been reported by three family members and friends, including her own father. However, they were allowed to keep Star.
The authorities were asking serious questions after Brockhill was convicted today of Smith’s murder and Smith’s cruelty.
Two month ago the head of the council’s Children Services department Mark Douglas resigned.
Ofsted in 2018 rated the service as “inadequate” and stated that “some children were at risk of serious harm.” In June this year it was hit with a ‘direction to improve’ over a ‘slow pace of change’.
The authorities believed the lies of Savannah Brockhill, 24 and Frankie Smith 20, respectively
In one instance, Abused Star became so dazed that she entered a sofa to see a social worker.
Mark Douglas, Bradford City Council’s head of Children Services Mark Douglas, has resigned as this October.
Star received treatment by the social services for the first time in January 2019, after Holly Jones (sometimes babysitter) referred Smith.
Star was becoming increasingly in Star’s care, and Star was flagged as a potential victim of domestic violence.
Trongs of days later police arrived but found no reason to be concerned. Smith wasn’t home when the social services visited her January 28.
She spoke to her family and the matter was closed.
Innocent Star Hobson, just 16 months of age at the time she was murdered in Keighley’s home.
Family members and five friends raised concerns about Brockhill and Smith’s parenting.
Star’s greatgrandmother Anita Smith called social services May 5 to inquire about concerns regarding the treatment of her infant.
Both the mother and baby did not get any bruises when they visited.
Frankie Smith spoke with Brockhill from social services and was granted permission by Brockhill to perform police checks.
Ms Smith made the referral and said that she had been called a “weirdo” and a “freak”. She and Mr Fawcett were then denied access to Star. They saw Star just a few more times until her passing in September.
David Fawcett was her partner. He said that after visiting his mother, the tot appeared depressed.
She said that her skin was brittle and she appeared to have lost some of the joy she felt when living with them. He said to the court, “I have never witnessed a baby so depressed in my entire life.”
Brockhill was already confronted by Mr Fawcett about Star’s bruises.
After he asked how she could not get them while she lived with him, she said that she hang up the phone because he had posted photos of Star with bruises on Facebook. Frankie Smith blocked her after viewing them.
Star’s father Jordan Hobson referred Smith to social services after seeing photos of Star’s battered face that he had taken with Brockhill.
Their home was again visited by police who found marks on the baby’s skull.
Smith said that Star hit her head against the coffee table handle.
Two bruises were found on her cheek, and four on her back.
Smith and Brockhill claimed that the two were playing with a puppy, which was what they thought it was.
Rachel Whiteley, a close friend to Smith’s mom Yvonne Spendley, contacted the social services on June 23rd.
Star was being picked up by Smith, and she had worried about her treatment.
Ms Whiteley said that it was unacceptable to give her barbecue food. She also did not like the manner she dealt with her.
The case was closed by the social services in July. It is unclear what happened.
On September 2 Frank Smith – Star’s paternal great-grandfather – alerted social services to a video of Star with bruises on her face.
According to some reports, their mother had traveled to Scotland during the time they were visiting her.
They returned the next day unannounced, and she was at Brockhill’s house.
Star, who was unsteady on her feet, was noticed by them and she even walked in a sofa with them.
Brockhill also noted bruises on Brockhill’s cheeks and right shins, but she said that Brockhill had told her she fell down the steps.
Later, the murderer revealed to police what the social worker said. She added: “Social services came and saw Star. She checked Star’s body. Her bedroom. We chatted about Star. She said that the report was malicious.
The case was closed by social services on September 15. They concluded that the referral was’malicious.
Star was then murdered a week later and discovered with broken bones to her skull, spine and ribs.
Also, she suffered from lacerations due to blood clots between her legs and her organs that leaked into her abdomen cavity.
Alistair MacDonald (QC, Prosecutor) stated that injuries occurred due to a forceful and severe blow.
Smith and Brockhill left Star’s injury for fifteen minutes before calling 911.
They looked online for ways to make a baby comfortable.
Video footage showing Star in distress at her house was shown to the jury. Mr MacDonald stated that it showed Star’s psychological and cruelty.
One clip shows Frankie Smith roughhanding an upset Star and making a persistent effort to get her out of the corner.
According to Mr MacDonald, “It’s inconceivable for any caregiver to wait fifteen minutes before calling professional help when their child of 16 months was suffering from a medical emergency.”
“Any innocuous carer would be on the phone within seconds and not fifteen minutes.”
Star also suffered two broken bones in his right leg, which he said was caused by forceful twisting. These fractures were refractured after they healed.
He mentioned a skull fracture and Starbruising, which he said was’mostly non-accidental’.
According to the prosecutor, Star was also aware that Star had been charged with a crime. Star and her family were not informed of Star’s situation by social services.