A heavily pregnant woman and her former partner were remanded in custody today over allegations they murdered her two-year-old son.
Phylesia Shirley, 23, has been charged alongside 27-year-old Kemar Brown with killing toddler Kyrell Matthews in October last year.
The former couple appeared at the Old Bailey this morning to face allegations of murder and causing or allowing the death of a child.
Kyrell was found in cardiac arrest at home in Thornton Heath, south London, on October 20 last year.
It is said he had suffered 39 rib fractures and allegedly died from “blunt force trauma”.
Shirley, who is expecting another child in January, appeared in the dock at the Old Bailey while Brown – who is not Kyrell’s father - followed proceedings via videolink from HMP Belmarsh.
Judge Anthony Leonard QC today remanded both in custody until a plea hearing on February 25. No date has been set yet for a trial.
The charges were brought earlier this week, following a year-long Metropolitan Police investigation into Kyrell’s death.
Shirley and Brown, both from separate addresses in Thornton Heath, have not yet entered any pleas.
