17-month-old Jayla-Jean McLaren died from a severe head injury, an inquest opening has revealed.
Senior Coroner Caroline Sumeray, sitting at the Isle of Wight Coroner’s Court in Newport this afternoon (Thursday), opened and adjourned an inquest into the toddler’s death – which is subject to a murder investigation by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary.
Those present in the courtroom heard how a post-mortem carried out at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London concluded the cause of death to be a severe head injury.
As previously reported by Island Echo, the youngster was rushed to St Mary’s emergency department in a serious condition on the morning of Friday 1st August following an alleged assault at her home address on Dairy Crest Drive in Newport.
Paramedics were responding to reports of a child being unresponsive, having first been called at around 09:00.
Jayla was later flown to Southampton General Hospital for specialist treatment, where she died at 15:32 on Sunday 3rd August.
Those who knew Jayla – and the wider community – have been paying tribute to her in recent days, with flowers laid at Church Litten in Newport.
A 31-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman – who had caring responsibility for Jayla – were arrested on suspicion of murder on Monday. The couple have since been bailed until 12th November.
Investigations continue.
