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Sentenced: Matthew Scully Hicks Killed His 18MO Adopted Daughter He Called Satan

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Sugar Cookie

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A stay-at-home father who referred to his newly-adopted 18-month-old daughter as "Satan dressed up in baby grow" has been accused of months of abuse before killing her.

Matthew Scully-Hicks is standing trial for the murder of his adopted daughter Elsie, at Cardiff Crown Court, with prosecutors saying he assaulted and abused her before her death.

The 31-year-old is accused of "violently shaking" Elsie causing her "catastrophic head injuries" on 25 May 2016 just two weeks after they formally completed the adoption process.

He and his husband, Craig Scully-Hicks, adopted Elsie in September 2015 when she was 10 months old after the child had been placed in the care of Vale of Glamorgan Council just days after being born.

"Within two weeks of Elsie's formal adoption by the couple, we allege that the defendant had inflicted fatal injuries upon her," prosecutor Paul Lewis QC said according to the BBC.

The crown alleges that Scully-Hicks, who denies murder, had beaten the child over a number of months before the violence culminated in her death.

"The injuries that caused her death were inflicted upon her by the defendant shortly before he called emergency services that day," said Lewis.

"His attack upon her that day was not the first time he had employed violence towards Elsie, nor was it the first time he had caused her serious injury.

Elsie died at University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, after a decision was taken to switch off her ventilator four days after she suffered traumatic head injuries.

The court heard how Scully-Hicks called the ambulance service to report that Elsie was unresponsive before paramedics attended and found was not breathing, with no signs of cardiac output.

Jurors heard how Elsie had suffered haemorrhages to her brain and behind her eyes with experts identifying that she had previously suffered other bleeds to her brain.

A post-mortem examination discovered Elsie had also suffered several broken ribs, a fractured left femur and a fractured skull, reported the Daily Mail.

Scully-Hicks allegedly carried out the attacks while his husband worked full time as a company director and jurors heard about other times Elsie had visited hospital in the lead-up to her death.

In November 2015 she fractured her ankle while in the care of the defendant then in December she sustained a bruise to her forehead.

In January, Elsie suffered another bruise on her head and in March she was taken to hospital by ambulance after Scully-Hicks said she had fallen down the stairs in their home.

After police examined electronic devices owned by Scully-Hicks they found numerous messages of him telling friends of the hardships Elsie was causing.

He said that he was "going through hell" on one occasion and described Elsie as "Satan dressed up in a baby grow."

The trial continues.
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http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/man-killed...e-his-husband-adopted-her-court-hears-1642467
 
Crystle said:
He was married to a man.

And at the link it said since adopting her they were going through hardships... if he's talking financially well what did he think it cost to adopt?
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Then the other parent needs to be charged too!!! There is no way he didn't know what was going on!!!
 
Sick sick PRICKS
stupid welfare dept. Someone's not doing a very good job montering that placement.
Shame on all involved..
 
fitness instructor accused of murdering his adopted daughter said calling her 'Satan' in text messages was just 'text talk' and 'making light of the situation'.

Matthew Scully-Hicks, 31, denies inflicting serious injuries on 18-month-old Elsie Scully-Hicks before her death in May 2016.

Cardiff Crown Court heard how Scully-Hicks denied being unable to cope with looking after the baby at home while his partner worked.

The court previously heard neighbours heard him screaming as she cried and that he had sent messages calling her 'Satan dressed up in a babygro' and a 'diva'.

One message to a friend said: 'It's been an eventful week with poo and sick and then tonight she has been Satan before bed again!!! My head is ready to explode!! How about you how's your week been? Xx'

Scully-Hicks was asked why Elsie's GP and the doctor at the fracture clinic had recorded she had been using her walker while he had told his husband and the police that she had been standing at an activity table.

He agreed that they must have 'misrecorded' what he said to them.
Paul Lewis QC, for the prosecution, said: 'What did you do to Elsie on November 5 to fracture two of the long bones in her leg?'

Scully-Hicks said: 'I did nothing to Elsie on November 5. I did nothing to Elsie ever.'

On March 10, she was taken to the University Hospital of Wales after falling 'head over heels' down a full flight of stairs at home, the court heard.

Mr Lewis asked him about other times when medical professionals had apparently 'misrecorded' what he had said, including on the day of Elsie's collapse.

On that occasion, a paramedic noted that he said Elsie screamed out as if in pain before collapsing, which Scully-Hicks had not said to anyone subsequently.

Scully-Hicks said he could not remember speaking to a paramedic and that she had not screamed.

Mr Lewis said: 'How many medical professionals have we found that misrecorded what you told them? Aren't we up to five?'

Scully-Hicks said: 'I don't know.'

Mr Lewis said: 'What did you do to cause these injuries to Elsie?'

Scully-Hicks said nothing, and agreed that they must have occurred spontaneously.
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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5021259/Gay-father-accused-shaking-baby-death.html
 
A fitness instructor accused of shaking his 18-month-old baby to death just a fortnight after he adopted her was today convicted of her murder.

Matthew Scully-Hicks, 31, shook Elsie Scully-Hicks before she was 'thrown against a hard floor' while he was looking after her at his home in Llandaff, Cardiff, on May 25 2016.

Elsie died just two weeks after she was formally adopted by Scully-Hicks and his husband Craig, 36.

Scully-Hicks, who sobbed when he was convicted, denied murdering her but was found guilty by a jury after a four week trial.

Cardiff Crown Court heard Scully-Hick branded her 'a psycho', 'the exorcist' and 'Satan dressed up in a Babygro' in text messages and she had suffered a string of suspicious injuries before eventually killed her.

The jury of nine men and three women went out last Wednesday but returned a unanimous guilty verdict shortly after midday today.

Social services in Cardiff face an investigation over whether they missed chances to save Elsie, who suffered a catalogue of injuries - including bruises, a broken leg and a fall down a full flight of stairs in the eight months Scully-Hicks had care of her.
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Continue Reading At Link

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5054267/Father-GUILTY-murdering-18-month-old-daughter.html
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This sounds so familiar, I'll bet it's already here somewhere. If so, sorry!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...mily-baby-girl-killed-gay-adoptive-fathe.html
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A toddler was murdered by her adoptive father under the noses of social workers and doctors who refused to accept he was anything other than a 'positive parent', a damning report revealed today.

Matthew Scully-Hicks, 31, from Cardiff, subjected 18-month-old Elsie Scully-Hicks to months of horrific assaults before killing her in an attack so severe her tiny body looked like it had been in a 'car crash'.
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Scully-Hicks, who was married to husband Craig, was visited 15 times by at least three social workers and he made numerous visits to the GP and A&E when he injured Elsie - but there was 'no concern' about his parenting.

Professionals viewed him through a 'positive lens' and insisted her adoption to the middle class and well-educated gay couple was going well until she died, a Child Practice Review said.

Today Vale of Glamorgan Council social services chief Lance Carver apologised to Elsie's natural family - who believe she would still be alive today if still in their care.

But Mr Carver also admitted no social workers had been disciplined or sacked over the mistakes because it was 'not appropriate'.

Yet an official review into her death was published today and said social workers and doctors of lacked 'professional curiosity' about Elsie's injuries.

The toddler suffered a broken leg, mystery bruising including one one her head that lasted for eight weeks and was even taken to hospital vomiting blood.

But each time the injuries were written off as common accidents or illnesses after her 'articulate' attacker made up excused.
4EC2D4FB00000578-6018673-image-a-14_1533205325231.jpg

[....]
Elsie died, four days after her adoptive father shook her so violently her brain and eyes started bleeding before he threw her her headfirst into the floor, fracturing her skull.

Scully-Hicks was jailed for a minimum of 18 years after a trial last year but Elsie's biological grandmother Sian O'Brien said he 'got off lightly' and her granddaughter should have stayed with her.

'Elsie suffered horrendous physical abuse at the hands of a man who should have protected her and who was viewed by authorities as a positive parent.

'This review is disturbingly clear that opportunities were missed and information was not shared appropriately'.

Lance Carver, director of social services at the Vale of Glamorgan Council, accepted the findings of today's report and apologised for errors in Elsie's case.
[....]
Mr Carver said no disciplinary actions had been taken against any members of staff as the report did not 'indicate that it would be appropriate'.

Scully-Hicks and his husband Craig were viewed as 'very positive parents' for little Elsie after she was taken away from her drug addict natural mother.

But as soon as she moved in her killer started secretly attacking her, branded her 'Satan in a babygro' and the 'exorcist' and heard calling her a 'silly little c***' inside their home in Llandaff.

Eight months after entering his care, and two weeks after being officially adopted by Scully Hicks and his husband, Elsie was murdered.
[....]
It still took a month for her killer to be interviewed by police, on June 27, after the authorities noticed all the suspicious injuries she had suffered since she broke her leg on November 5 2015.

Six months after that police interview he was arrested on suspicion Elsie's murder and convicted in November 2017, almost two years to the day after he is first believed to have attacked her.

Scully-Hicks, who sobbed when he was convicted, denied murdering her but was today found guilty by a jury after a four week trial and jailed for a minimum of 18 years. [....]
'The assessment of them as adoptive parents was strong and robust and was compliant with good practice standards.'

It said Scully-Hicks and his partner were 'perceived to be very positive parents for this child.'

The report said: 'Given how strongly this view was held, the injuries that the child sustained were never considered as anything other than childhood accidents.

'Adoption is a positive outcome for almost every child. It is extremely rare for any child placed for adoption to be harmed by their parents.

'The parents, their extended family nor any of the professionals working with the child had recognised any concerns regarding possible harm.

'There were no reports to children's services of any such concern. As a result there is a lackof professional curiosity regardinn the child's experiences and injuries.'

But it revealed how little Elsie was seen many times by social workers and adoption officers in her short life.

It said: 'The child was not invisible to agencies at any time.

'The parents did not indicate at any stage that they were struggling to care for this child and did not require any additional support services.

'It is evident that during the child's placement with the parents the child was seen on many occasions by several professionals within the agencies.'

It hit out at errors by not flagging up injuries suffered by Elsie before her death.
[....]
In January 2015 Scully-Hicks and his husband Craig were visited by a adoption manager after expressing a desire to become fathers.

Elsie was first put in the care of Scully-Hicks in September 2015 and the process was finalised nearly eight months later.

Between the meeting and her death, social workers visited their home 15 times and the toddler suffered bruises on her head, face and body, had broken her leg and had fallen down the stairs at the house.

Over the next seven months she also had mystery bruises on her head and was rushed to hospital in March last year after allegedly falling down the stairs.

Social workers and health visitors noted various injuries to Elsie's body including bruises to her head and a broken ankle.

Elsie was even rushed to hospital after vomiting blood - but Scully-Hicks claimed she had fallen down the stairs.
[....]
But officials didn't raise any concerns which would have stopped the adoption process and potentially saved Elsie.

Neighbour Susan Bevan, who lived in the joining semi-detached house to the couple, said things changed when Elsie moved in.

Cardiff Crown Court heard stay-at-home husband Scully-Hicks branded her 'a psycho', 'the exorcist' and 'Satan dressed up in a Babygro' in text messages.

Mr Lewis said: 'On one occasion she heard a little girl crying and 'the one who stayed at home' having a rant and shouting 'shut up, shut up, shut the f*** up.''

Mrs Bevan's adult son, James, also heard Matthew Scully-Hicks shouting 'shut up you little f***ing brat' and 'shut up you silly little c***.'

On the day of Elsie suffered fatal injuries, Scully-Hicks took her shopping for an outfit for her to wear at a party to celebrate her adoption at a party planned with family and friends.

He sent pictures of outfits at Marks & Spencer to his husband and purchased one for Elsie to wear.

But instead he shook her and then threw her to the ground, leaving his daughter fatally injured.

The court heard the youngster suffered a string of injuries when she was alone with stay-at-home dad Scully-Hicks.

Prosecutor Paul Lewis QC said Elsie was found unresponsive by paramedics after Scully-Hicks attacked her at his home.

She died at University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, after doctors decided she would not survive her traumatic head injuries.
[....]
Speaking on behalf of the family, her birth grandmother Sian O'Brien said: 'I accept that at the time of giving birth my daughter was living a chaotic lifestyle and was not in a position to care for Shayla and she was removed from the hospital five days after birth by social services.

'As a family, we continued to have contact with Shayla whilst she was in the care of the foster family.'

Ms O'Brien said all of Elsie's family were 'extremely attached to her and loved her very much'.

She said: 'In January 2015, I started proceedings in the family court to become the legal guardian for Shayla.

'I wanted to bring her up in a happy, healthy and warm family environment, that was all taken away from me when social services and the family court decided I would not be able to cope.'

The statement continued: 'We all continue to fight on even though every day we are numb with pain and hurt deep in the knowledge that Shayla was loved unconditionally by us all as a family and knowing that had she not been taken away from us, she would still be alive today.'
[....]
The death of a child within an adoptive placement is incredibly rare, but made no less shocking or distressing by its infrequency. I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest sympathy to members of Elsie's birth and adoptive families.

'Implementing the recommendations of the independent review is a priority for the council and one we take incredibly seriously.'

Suzanne Griffiths, Director for National Adoption Service for Wales, described it was 'tragic and extremely rare.'

'The report concludes that the key decisions regarding the approval of Elsie's adoptive parents and their subsequent matching with Elsie were thorough and robust.

'There is clearly a need to carefully consider the detail of the review and its recommendations of that policy and practice can be strengthened.

'The adoption process has remained highly regulated since sweeping reforms were introduced in the 1980s. Adoption offers permanence and good outcomes for the vast majority of children who leave care in this way.
[....]
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A man who murdered a toddler two weeks after formally adopting her has been jailed for a minimum of 18 years. Matthew Scully-Hicks, 31, was handed a life sentence for violently shaking 18-month-old Elsie Scully-Hicks and striking her head at their home in Llandaff, Cardiff, in May 2016.
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news.sky.com

Matthew Scully-Hicks jailed for 18 years for murder of adopted daughter Elsie

Mrs Justice Davies said Scully-Hicks had shown "no remorse" for the murder of a "young, vulnerable and defenceless child".
news.sky.com news.sky.com
 
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