A four-month-old baby killed in Belper died because a teenager beat him so badly.
Elijah Shemwell died from a heart attack caused by a serious brain injury. Baby Elijah also suffered several broken ribs during the same attack.
The incident happened in Acron Drive on January, 2, two years ago. Baby Elijah was left in the care of Carl Alesbrook was 16 at the time.
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Baby Elijah was shaken so hard that he suffered a catastrophic brain injury. He was also squeezed so hard he broke several ribs.
Police were called around 10:50 pm after the baby’s mother India Shemwell returned to the house in Belper. It was there that Elijah became ill and struggled to breathe and 999 was called.
Ambulance services took the baby to hospital, but he died just three days later. Police arrested Carl Alesbrook and India Shemwell.
The pair were charged with the same offence on different days. These were:
- Cruelty to a person under 16 – between 31 December 2021 and 1 January 2022.
- Cruelty to a person under 16 – on 2 January 2022.
Derby teen had assaulted four-month-old baby before.
Baby Elijah, a four-month-old baby killed in Belper had been assaulted several times before. Carl Alesbrook, who has now been jailed, was named as the culprit behind the heinous attacks.
Derby Crown Court heard that Alesbrook repeatedly assaulted Elijah, inflicting devastating injuries. These included broken ribs and ultimately the brain injury that killed him.
“The force used to squeeze his tiny body broke his ribs, while the shaking caused significant brain damage,” DCI McGill explained.
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Teenager and young mum sentenced after four-month-old baby killed in Belper
Alesbrook, who is still a teenager, aged 19 now, denied the charges against him. But after a trial a Derby Crown Court, he was found guilty.
The baby’s mother, Shemwell, pleaded guilty to both charges. In court, on Friday, November 15, the two were sentenced.
Carl Alesbrook, 19, was handed an indefinite sentence in court. He will serve a minimum of 14 years, minus time spent in prison already before he can apply for parole.
India Shemwell, the baby’s mother, was sentenced to 3 years.
Carl Alesbrook lied after four-month-old baby killed in Derby village
Detective Chief Inspector Greg McGill, who led the investigation into Elijah’s death, described the tragic case as deeply disturbing. He said Carl Alesbrook, only 16 at the time, “knew the fatal risks posed by shaking a four-month-old baby boy.”
Alesbrook never admitted guilt, despite overwhelming evidence against him. He attempted to deceive the jury with fabricated stories, but they “saw through his lies and half-truths,” McGill added. While Alesbrook’s motive remains unknown, the jury determined he was responsible for Elijah’s murder. DCI McGill stated, “Today, we have done that justice for Elijah.”
The investigation also highlighted the neglect of Elijah’s mother, India Shemwell. McGill described her as “an appalling mother” who prioritized her relationships and drug use over her child’s safety.
She left Elijah in the care of Alesbrook, someone she barely knew and who was unfit to care for a baby. While Shemwell could not have predicted Alesbrook’s brutality, her negligence had lasting consequences.
McGill concluded by focusing on Elijah, emphasizing that the investigation was dedicated to securing justice for him. “He was at the heart of this investigation,” McGill said.
