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A mum has been told she could face a manslaughter charge after it emerged she was partying at home just days after her baby daughter died.
And she was allegedly on cocaine when the girl died. An inquest has heard how 32-year-old Amy Jones denied she was on drugs just hours prior to her daughter Keira-Mae Jones died.
She astonishingly claimed that if she was on cocaine, she could still care for the baby as it “makes you more alert”.
The girl died from a “catastrophic brain damage” after being found face down on her mother's bed at Barnsley Hospital's neonatal ward.
Her life support was turned off 16 weeks later, after she was moved to the Jessop Wing hospital – and her mum was alleged to have held a house party just a few days later.
Her mother was arrested on suspicion of “criminal overlay” for taking the little girl to bed while under the influence of substances at the time.
Keira-Mae’s father, Alex Jones, 38, also from Barnsley, was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. The pair were both later released without any further action.
But at an inquest on Thursday, senior coroner David Urpeth ruled the little girl had died due to “the unlawful act of the mother”.
And he said he was “surprised” charges hadn’t been brought against her and that he would appeal to the CPS to “re-assess” their decision.
He said: “I find the death of Keira-Mae Jones was due to the unlawful act of the mother. I am satisfied that the finding of cause of death in this case on the balance of probability is unlawful killing.
“I am surprised the CPS did not authorise charges in this tragic case… I would ask this case be referred back to the CPS to reassess their decision.”
In subsequent police interviews, Miss Jones denied using cocaine in hospital.
She said she believed she had fallen asleep and squashed her baby and she hadn’t taken any drugs.
In his ruling, Mr Urpeth said: "I find on balance of probability that Amy was not fit to care for a baby due to her drug intoxication. The unlawful act of the mother directly led to Keira’s death.
“That is someone who could and should have provided protection and care for Keira-Mae. It is a tragedy that she didn’t. Therefore I have to reach a conclusion and I am satisfied on balance of probability the appropriate conclusion to record in this case is unlawful killing.“
Jones, who was present to give evidence, left before the ruling was complete.
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