THE mum and partner of nine-year-old Alfie Steele are due to appear in court next month charged with his murder.

Carla Scott, 34, and Dirk Howell, 39 are accused of the murder of Alfie following his death at a house in Droitwich on February 18 last year.

Both face other, associated child cruelty charges said to have been committed against Alfie before his death.

Both are due to appear at Worcester Crown Court on February 25 this year for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

Alfie Steele died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, after he had been airlifted from his home in Droitwich.

Scott also faces another charge of 'causing or allowing the death of a child'.

The charge reads that 'having been a person who was a member of the same household as, and had frequent contact with, Alfie Steele, a child who died on February 18, 2021 as a result of the unlawful act of such a person, and there having been at that time a significant risk of serious physical harm being caused to Alfie Steele by the unlawful act of such a person, either (a) caused Alfie Steele’s death by her own unlawful act or (b) was or ought to have been aware of that risk, and failed to take such steps as she could reasonably have been expected to take to protect Alfie Steele from the risk, the unlawful act having occurred in circumstances of the kind that he foresaw or ought to have foreseen."

Howell faces an identical charge of causing or allowing the death of a child, forming a separate count on the indictment.

Both also face a charge of cruelty to a person aged under 16 between July 13, 2019 and February 18, 2021.

It is said that 'having the responsibility for Alfie Steele, a child under that age, wilfully assaulted, ill-treated, neglected, abandoned or exposed the said Alfie Steele in a manner likely to cause the said Alfie Steele unnecessary suffering or injury to health'.

Following his death, Alfie’s grandad, Paul Scott, has spoken of his smile that would melt butter and his inquisitive nature, he said: “We are completely devastated by the loss of Alfie, he had a smile that would melt butter.

"He was intelligent and inquisitive, and was courageous like a lion; he was a good Christian boy who was full of God.”