A toddler died with 70 visible injuries after his mother and former partner meted out "aggressive, violent 'discipline'" on him, a court heard.
Ms Hedges, Alfie's mother, and her then boyfriend Mr Benham are accused of murdering him at Mr Benham's caravan in Hernhill, near Faversham on 28 November 2020.Traces of cocaine were found in Alfie's blood and urine samples, and doctors examining Alfie suggested it could have been passive inhalation of crack cocaine or from external contact with the drug on the night of his death.
"The fact that this did not happen can only be because both defendants agreed that the assaults should take place ... they both agreed in meting out some sort of aggressive, violent 'discipline' to Alfie that night which resulted in his death."Jurors were told the pair had exchanged text messages the month before Alfie's death, where Mr Benham appeared to suggest Ms Hedges bite Alfie back after he had bitten her. Ms Hedges said she did not want to do that.