A CORONER has recorded a verdict of unlawful killing in the case of a baby found entombed in a concrete block.

The unidentified baby girl, which is thought to be aged between four and six months old, was beaten and may have been sexually abused before being plunged into the block while still alive, the inquest was told.

The baby's tiny body lay undiscovered for at least 15 years until the block was cracked open in a garage in a small village near Workington, Cumbria, in 2002.

Detectives launched a huge inquiry to try and uncover the child's identity and trace her brutal killer.

They named the baby Lara.

The horrific details emerged at the inquest into the girl's death held at Workington Magistrates Court, Cumbria.

The discovery was made by a man who cracked open the block with a jackhammer while renovating his garage.

Home Office pathologist Alison Armour, who examined the body, outlined a chilling catalogue of injuries which showed she was badly abused during her short life.

Clues found on the remains may indicate she was placed into the wet concrete while still alive, she said.

Examination of the block showed it had been constructed from two separate pours.

This meant the killer placed the child in the mixture and left her for several minutes before returning to add more concrete.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Carter, who led the inquiry to identify the child and trace her killer, described how the decaying remains appeared grey and similar to "dark coloured putty" when discovered. Giving evidence on the first day of the inquest, Graeme Wood, 39, recounted how he had been clearing rubble from his garage when he broke open the 12in x 9in x 7in block.

He said: "I just put the jackhammer on it and it split in half right away.

"It was the smell that first got my attention. I wasn't quite sure what I was looking at. I thought it must be an animal."

He collected the remains in a black plastic bag and dumped them in a nearby stream.

He contacted police some days later after becoming suspicious of the find.

The inquest, before coroner John Taylor, heard that the body was wrapped in a white handmade cotton pillowcase before being placed in the concrete.

A huge police operation was launched using cutting edge scientific technology to try to find a DNA match for the child.

Some 332 DNA samples were collected from residents of Barepot, the small village where the body was discovered.

Dr Armour said the child had suffered a fractured skull and bruising to the torso.

At the time of death the baby had an abscess in her jaw, most likely the result of being hit in the face.

She said food was found in the girl's throat, which may have been caused by vomiting as she was placed headfirst into the wet concrete.

She said: "This baby girl, aged four to six months, was placed naked, wrapped in a pillowcase, and put into a block of concrete made specially for her size.

"The examination of the concrete block suggests it was constructed between five and 15 years ago.

"The cause of her death is uncertain. Whether she was placed in the concrete block before or after her death cannot be known for certain.

"There is evidence of non-accidental injuries but the precise cause of death remains unknown."

DROITWICH WOMAN WAS AT THE CENTRE OF DNA MYSTERY

A COUPLE from Droitwich became embroiled in the mystery of Lara's death after a DNA match.

Anne Chadwick and her husband Phillip, of Sandles Road, The Ridings, once lived just yards from where Lara was found in Barepot, Cumbria.

They were arrested in January 2004 on suspicion of murdering the tot after they, along with hundreds of others, provided DNA samples in a bid to trace Lara's parents.

The samples revealed that Mrs Chadwick, a mother-of-three, was a close relative of the child.

They were later cleared of any involvement in the death of the girl.

The Worcester News reported in March 2004 that Mrs Chadwick said Lara may have been her sister as her mother, Sheila Parker, had a secret 15-year affair with her married next-door neighbour, Joe Thwaites, when they lived in Seaton - a mile from where Lara was found.

Tests on a stored tissue sample taken from Mrs Parker proved to be inconclusive and as both are dead no further tests can be carried out.

Mr and Mrs Chadwick were unavailable for comment as the Worcester News went to press.