Parents accused of abuse in death of 13-month-old daughter

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 28 Oct, 01:32 · Archive

A 13-month-old girl died after suffering fractured skull, broken ribs, a broken arm and facial burn injuries, a court heard.

A 13-month-old girl died after suffering injuries including a fractured skull, subdural haemorrhage, fractured ribs, a broken arm and a burn covering her entire face. Isabella Stasiak was taken to hospital in the early hours of 7 January 2025 after her mother Kinga Wydrzynska called 999 saying she had found her daughter with foam coming from her mouth. Police found Isabella 'grey and lifeless' at the home in Rugby, Warwickshire. She was pronounced dead in hospital hours later.

The girl's parents, Wydrzynska, 26, and Michal Stasiak, 28, are both Polish nationals. Wydrzynska is charged with Isabella's murder. Both face one count of causing or allowing the death of a child, four counts of causing or allowing serious physical harm to a child, two counts related to sexual assault of a child, and three counts of child cruelty. They pleaded not guilty to all 11 counts at Warwick Crown Court.

Prosecutor Annabel Darlow KC told the court that Isabella's pregnancy was 'both not wanted and hidden', and the child spent her first few months in foster care before being returned to her parents nine months before her death. The court heard that not all of Isabella's injuries had been inflicted on the same occasion, suggesting a pattern of abuse over time.

Darlow said the injuries were the 'devastating culmination of systematic physical abuse' and that medical experts concluded Isabella died 'because she suffered injuries consistent with a forceful direct impact to her head against a hard surface'. She told the court: 'By the time Isabella died, there was an entrenched pattern of abuse, neglect and mistreatment of the little girl of which both parents were entirely aware.'

The court heard both parents were known to social services and the police. Stasiak had left the home to live in a nearby flat three-and-a-half weeks before Isabella's death, after Wydrzynska alleged he had assaulted her. The court also heard Stasiak had a 'gambling habit'.

How it is being reported

• Baby Isabella abused by parents before 'catastrophic' head injury, court toldBaby Isabella was only 13 months old when she died in tragic circumstancesDaily Express · 28 Oct, 06:05
• Parents subjected 'unwanted' baby to physical and sexual abuse before fatal head injury, court toldIsabella Stasiak suffered ‘catastrophic’ head injuries from which she died on January 7 2025 aged 13 monthsThe Independent · 27 Oct, 20:12
• Parents inflicted fatal physical and sexual abuse on their baby, Warwick court hearsMichal Stasiak and Kinga Wydrzynska pleaded not guilty to 11 counts relating to death of 13-month-old Isabella Stasiak A 13-month-old girl was subjected to physical and sexual abuse at the hands of her parents before she was fatally injured by her mother, a court has heard. Michal Stasiak, 28, and Kinga Wydrzynska, 26, appeared at Warwick crown court on Tuesday, where they pleaded not guilty to 11 counts related to the death of Isabella Stasiak. Continue reading...The Guardian · 27 Oct, 19:05
• Mother 'murdered' her year-old baby in culmination of an 'entrenched pattern of abuse, neglect and mistreatment', court hearsKinga Wydrzynska's pregnancy with little Isabella was 'both not wanted and hidden', jurors heard, and the child spent the first few months of her life in the care of foster parents.Daily Mail · 27 Oct, 16:09

In this story: Isabella Stasiak · Kinga Wydrzynska · Michal Stasiak · Annabel Darlow · Rugby · Warwickshire · Warwick Crown Court

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log