Nick Goodwin KC in N (A Child) (Death of Sibling) [2025] EWFC 325
2nd Dec 2025 | Cases
Nick Goodwin KC, representing the applicant Local Authority, led Matthew Maynard of St Ives Chambers in N (A Child) (Death of Sibling) [2025] EWFC 325; care proceedings brought following the unexplained death of the child’s sibling.
This care case concerns N, aged 3, following the unexplained death of her 4-week-old brother A.
Extensive expert evidence showed A sustained catastrophic head, spinal, eye and rib injuries, including both acute and older rib fractures, consistent with severe shaking and chest compression, not an organic cause or CPR. Only the parents could be responsible. The court found the father, who had a history of serious violence towards his older child O and longstanding mental health and anger problems, inflicted both sets of injuries amid stress, isolation and poor emotional control. Baby-cam footage also showed him behaving abusively towards N. The mother, although not a perpetrator of injury, was found to have failed to protect: she minimised known risks, ignored obvious distress and aggression, and lied about key events, remaining aligned with the father. Threshold was met and a final care order was made for N to remain in foster care pending family assessment.
