A jury has been selected and sworn in for the trial of a West Cumbria man who stands accused of murdering his baby son.
Reece Martin Kelly, 31, and 23-year-old Georgia Wright both face two charges which arise out of the death of four-month-old Dallas Kelly.
Kelly alone is accused of murdering Dallas on October 19, 2021.
Wright faces a separate charge which alleges that she caused or allowed the death of a child.
Both Kelly and Wright jointly face one charge which alleges cruelty to a person aged under 16, namely Dallas, between May 23 and October 15, 2021.
It is alleged they did so by failing to take Dallas to important medical appointments; failing to provide him with adequate parental supervision; failing to provide him with basic parental care; and exposing him to harmful substances.
Kelly, formerly of Hunday Court, Workington, and Wright, of Workington, have pleaded not guilty to the respective charges that they face, and they are due to stand trial at Carlisle Crown Court.
In court this afternoon, a jury of 10 men and two women — plus two potential alternates — were formally sworn in to try the case.
In an initial address to jurors, the judge, Mr Justice Dove, said the trial was expected to last between three and five weeks.
He thanked members of the jury for what he called their “important public duty”, and provided them with factual information and a number of instructions.
“This case concerns the death of a baby,” said Mr Justice Dove. “You will judge this case dispassionately and without emotion, bringing your objective judgement to bear on the facts when you come to consider your verdicts.”
Barrister Richard Littler KC will formally open the case for the prosecution in due course before the jury starts hearing evidence in the case.
