Primrose Kane died at age six from injuries sustained as a baby. Her father is accused of murder.
This attack happened in November 2014. Primrose suffered bad brain injuries and her skull also fractured. Jurors learned she had lasting disabilities and was in constant pain.
Primrose went to live with her grandma and attended a special school in Plumstead. She was three years old then. Sadly, she died on May 17, 2021, at just six years old,.
Kitchen was already in jail, serving time for hurting Primrose. Now, he is charged with her murder, according to information presented to the jurors.
The prosecutor, Jennifer Knight KC, spoke at the trial, which began on Tuesday. Primrose lived with Kitchen and her mom, Kenzey Kane, 31, in one room located in Camden.
The couple argued a lot and their relationship was unstable. Kitchen was arrested on September 29, 2014 and received a warning for hitting Kane, Ms Knight revealed.
Kane was holding her three-week-old baby when Kitchen slapped Kane’s face because the baby was crying. The jurors also heard this information.
The couple was alone when Primrose was badly hurt in November 2014. On November 3rd, shortly before 6 AM, Kane called 111 and said Primrose was limp and wouldn’t wake up, having made odd sounds during the night. Kitchen allegedly spoke during the call, saying Primrose had blood near her nose and wasn’t breathing.
Paramedics quickly arrived and the jurors learned the baby was not responsive. They took her to a nearby hospital, the Royal Free Hospital. Doctors found a fracture and a serious brain injury, but her parents gave no explanation, with Kane reportedly saying they did not knock her.
Primrose then moved to a better hospital, Great Ormond Street, where tests confirmed her serious injuries. Ms. Knight told the jurors it was clear she’d have lasting issues, a “significant neuro-disability.”
Primrose stayed in the hospital six weeks and then lived with her grandma, Maria Kane. Kitchen and Kane were arrested on November 4, 2014, maintaining they did nothing to hurt her and saw no violence.
Kitchen was later convicted at court of causing harm on purpose by fracturing her skull and shaking her too hard. Kane was also found guilty by the jurors, who decided she failed to protect her young daughter, causing serious injury to the child.
Primrose developed many problems linked to her brain injury, including cerebral palsy, feeding issues, and an inability to talk. She also developed epilepsy that resisted drugs.
Her life quality seemed very low in 2016, and her condition was severe. Doctors put in a “do not resuscitate” order. Jurors were told these facts.
Despite her disabilities, she attended a special school in Plumstead from age three until she died. The headteacher called her “characterful.”
On May 16, 2021, she slept with her grandma, which was her normal routine in a double bed together, a fact that emerged in court. Maria Kane woke up before 5 AM and noticed something was very wrong.
Primrose’s noisy breathing had stopped and paramedics arrived quickly. They pronounced her dead at 5:23 AM.
An exam showed the cause of death was the old head injury from when she was a baby. Ms. Knight mentioned Kitchen’s prison status to jurors, noting he declined to speak to officers.
Ms Knight addressed the jurors once more, stating Kitchen was guilty of murder and his prior convictions showed his guilt. “He needs to prove he did not commit these.”
Kitchen says he is innocent and denies murder charges. The trial continues now at the Old Bailey court.