A WITNESS said they saw nine-year-old Alfie Steele lying, not breathing, on a landing before the emergency services arrived at his home on the day of his death.

Mum Carla Scott, 35, and her partner, Dirk 'Dean' Howell, 41, are accused of Alfie's murder and a trial s continuing into a second week at Coventry Crown Court.

The prosecution alleges Alfie was repeatedly assaulted and beaten, and held in a cold bath as punishment before his death.

On Tuesday, (May 9), the jury heard from a witness who had been at the home in Vashon Drive, Droitwich, on the day of Alife's death, February 18, 2021.

“He wasn’t breathing,” the witness said.

“His chest wasn’t going up and down.”

Worcester News: REMEMBERED: Alfie SteeleREMEMBERED: Alfie Steele (Image: West Mercia Police)

Carla Scott denies murder, manslaughter, causing or allowing the death of Alfie and child cruelty offences against Alfie and other children.

Howell, of Princip Street, Birmingham, admitted child cruelty against other children before his trial, but denies murder, manslaughter, cruelty or causing or allowing the death of Alfie.

READ MORE: Jury hears of the desperate efforts to save nine-year-old Alfie Steele

READ MORE: Nine-year-old Alfie Steele was beaten before his death, jury hears

READ MORE: Alfie Steele murder trial of Dirk Howell and Carla Scott gets underway

The witness also said they had seen Howell in the house at the time Scott made the 999 call.

This was despite an order banning him from staying overnight at the home put in place amid concerns about him from social services.

Worcester News: TRIAL: Carla ScottTRIAL: Carla Scott (Image: Facebook)

The jury heard earlier in the trial Scott told police she had not seen Howell for two days before Alfie’s death.

The prosecution alleges Howell stayed at the home overnight and CCTV showed him running from the house towards the train station before emergency services arrived.

Worcester News: TRIAL: Dirk 'Dean' HowellTRIAL: Dirk 'Dean' Howell (Image: Facebook)

On Wednesday, (May 10), a jury also heard from a second witness.

They said on the afternoon they had heard Scott say: "Come on Alf, warm up" in the bedroom, where the nine-year-old had been moved out of the bath.  

The witness added: "Dean was there he left just before everyone came."


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Last week the jury heard about the desperate efforts to save Alfie. 

PC Paul Pickering - who was among the first on the scene at Vashon Drive - told the jury there were no signs of life despite him performing CPR.

"He was cold to the touch, he was pale," the officer said.

Paramedic Daniel Fletcher had said: "There were no signs of life, there was no pulse.

“He was in cardiac arrest, his heart not beating.”

The trial continues.