Mother, 49, denies killing ‘wonderful’ daughter who had Down’s Syndrome after 24-year-old was found starved to death and infected with scabies
- Elaine Clarke appeared in court today charged with causing daughter’s death
- Deborah Leitch had Down’s Syndrome and was found dead at house in Blackpool
- Post mortem examination gave cause of death as severe emaciation and neglect
A mother has denied killing her ‘wonderful’ daughter who had Down’s Syndrome by negligence, after the 24-year-old was found starved to death and infected with scabies.
Elaine Clarke, 49, appeared at Preston Crown Court today and entered a not guilty plea to the unlawful killing of Debbie Leitch in Blackpool, Lancashire.
Police found the body of Ms Leitch when they were called by the ambulance service to an address in Garden Terrace on the evening of August 29, 2019.
Elaine Clarke (left) is accused of killing her 24-year-old daughter Debbie Leitch (right) who had Down’s syndrome and was found emaciated with a severe skin infection at a home in Blackpool
Police officers were called to the home in South Shore, Blackpool, where Deborah was found
A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as severe emaciation and neglect with extensive scabies skin infection.
Appearing in the dock with her was Robert Bruce, 45, who pleaded not guilty to causing or allowing the death of Ms Leitch, a vulnerable adult, between January 2019 and August 2019 while he was a member of the same household.
A statement issued on behalf of Ms Leitch’s family previously described her as a ‘wonderful girl’ who was ‘always happy, and always friendly’.
A trial date of January 31 next year was fixed with an estimated length of up to four weeks.
A pre-trial review will take place on November 19.
The Honorary Recorder of Preston, Judge Robert Altham, extended unconditional bail for Clarke, of Garden Terrace, Blackpool, and Bruce, of Windsor Crescent, Rothwell, Leeds.