Mum found guilty of murdering her two-month-old baby boy as chilling 999 call hears her scream ‘my son is dead’
A MUM has been found guilty of murdering her two-month-old baby – after she was heard screaming “My son is dead” in a chilling 999 call.
Malik Goncalves, just 12 weeks old, was found unresponsive by emergency responders on August 19, 2020, at a flat in Harlow, Essex.
His mother Ellodie Goncalves had called the police reporting that morning saying a child was in “urgent need of assistance”.
During the call, played to the jury during the lengthy trial, Goncalves could be heard saying “My son is dead, he’s not moving”.
She added that he was “cold” and that she had tried chest compressions to resuscitate him.
The court heard that Malik suffered a number of injuries, including a “severe head injury” which most likely involved a “shaking type of action” and “some forceful impact of the head onto or against a hard surface”.
In total, he had suffered 21 rib fractures, broken wrists and his skull was fractured in two places.
Expert evidence heard during the trial concluded that the injuries were more likely non-accidental.
The majority of the injuries were caused between two and 12 hours before his death, except for Malik’s left wrist which was fractured 3-6 days prior to death.
Mr Karim Khalil KC, for the prosecution, said Goncalves was subject to a social services safety plan that she had signed alongside co-defendant, Malik’s father Muritala Olaiya-Imam.
Conditions of the plan included Goncalves being prohibited from drinking alcohol, being alone with Malik, and that Olaiya-Imarn, 37, was to contact police if Goncalves was under the influence of alcohol.
In his opening remarks at the start of a six-week trial at Chelmsford Crown Court, Mr Khalil said Malik was a “defenceless baby”.
‘BEAUTIFUL BOY’
During the trial, Goncalves and Olaiya-Imam were brought to tears when a video was shown to the jury in which Malik was described as a “beautiful boy” by Goncalves.
Taking to the witness stand, a healthcare visitor who supported the family told the court there were “no concerns about the home conditions” and that Malik appeared “well cared for” on previous visits.
They said they had observed Ellodie “looking, talking and smiling” at Malik and “his eyes were fixed on her”.
The healthcare professional also said that Goncalves’ soft manner of speaking to Malik, as seen in the video, had been noticed on visits too.
In cross-examination, the professional said: “With what I observed from the home visits I had no concern apart from what happened on June 24.
“She was definitely trying her best if not more, to be a good mum.
“Muritala was also hands-on so there was certainly support around.”
Dr Paula Murphy recounted an assessment meeting with Goncalves when giving evidence to the trial.
She said: “When she woke up at 9am, he was face down in her bed in a pool of blood.
“She did not see the blood until she picked him up. He was blue and then she called for an ambulance.”
Summing up some of her meetings with Goncalves, Dr Murphy said there have been signs of “paranoia and distress” and that she was “not coping well” after Malik’s birth.
As part of the police investigation, Goncalves was required to provide a sample of urine for drug and alcohol analysis.
TRAGIC DEATH
Officers discovered she had plotted with partner Olaiya-Imam to contaminate her sample by mixing their urine samples.
A blood sample provided by Goncalves identified the presence of cannabis and alcohol, placing her one-and-a-half times over the legal drink-drive limit.
Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Truss, who led the investigation, said: “The death of a young child is and will always be immensely tragic and our thoughts remain with Malik’s wider family at this difficult time.
“Malik died at the hands of those who should have cared for him most.
“I hope that today’s verdict will bring some comfort to the family.
“This lengthy, sensitive investigation was difficult for all those involved.
“But I am proud that everyone acted with determined professionalism and focussed on what really mattered – securing justice for the death of their defenceless baby son.”
Goncalves was convicted of murder and Olaiya-Imam was found guilty of allowing the death of a child.
Both were found guilty of child cruelty and perverting the course of justice. They will be sentenced at a later date.