Jury sworn in at Teesside Crown Court for trial of man accused of murdering two-year-old Maya Chappell in County Durham

By Tom Wilkinson, PA
Published 23rd Oct 2023, 14:33 BST
Updated 23rd Oct 2023, 17:12 BST
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A jury has been sworn in for the trial of a man charged with murdering a toddler who died from head injuries.

Michael Daymond, 27, denies murdering two-year-old Maya Chappell, of Shotton Colliery, County Durham, who died in September 2022.

He also denied a charge of child cruelty.

Also appearing at Teesside Crown Court was Dana Carr, 24, who denied a child cruelty charge and a charge of allowing the death of a child.

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The trial is taking place at Teesside Crown Court.The trial is taking place at Teesside Crown Court.
The trial is taking place at Teesside Crown Court.

Mr Justice Bright said the little girl was called Maya Chappell, adding: “She sustained injuries to her head and she died because of that.”

The judge said the case was about how those injuries came about.

He sent the jury home and said the case will be opened by the prosecution on Tuesday morning.

Maya died in hospital after being airlifted in a critical condition when emergency services were called to reports of a medical incident at a home in Milton Grove, Shotton Colliery, on Wednesday, September 28.