A babysitter admitted killing a nine-month-old boy by “forcefully” shaking him for crying after falling out of his high chair. Karen Foster, 62, had been due to stand trial for the murder of Harlow Collinge, who died in hospital after suffering head injuries at her bungalow in Hapton, Lancashire. Harlow’s mother, Gemma, sobbed in the public gallery at Preston Crown Court as prosecutors yesterday said they were instead accepting Foster’s guilty plea to manslaughter.
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion. Foster, described in court as a “highly-experienced” childminder, maintains that Harlow “toppled over out of his chair” and “banged his head”, judge Mr Justice Cotter told the brief hearing. Foster, who walks with a crutch, claims she then “shook him in frustration” because he was crying.
Prosecutor Anne Whyte KC said the decision to accept the manslaughter plea came following discussions with Harlow’s family. Harlow was described as “a funny, playful baby who loved Peter Rabbit, milkshakes and pink wafer biscuits”. His mother, Ms Collinge, dropped him off with Foster – who had been looking after babies and toddlers for nine years – on March 1, 2022.
But shortly after 1pm, Foster rang 999 to say that he wasn”t breathing and “she thought he was choking”, the court heard. She later told paramedics he “finished his dinner then collapsed”. However, a CT scan of the infant‘s head showed sig.