Parents accused of abusing young daughter before fatal head injury, court told

Child had skull fracture, fractured ribs, facial burns and sexual injuries, trial hears

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published27 October 2026

Updated27 October 2026

Read Time4 min

Sources2 outlets

Two parents are on trial in England accused of causing or allowing their young daughter's death, with prosecutors alleging physical and sexual abuse before she suffered a fatal head injury.

The parents face multiple charges including causing or allowing the death of a child, causing or allowing serious physical harm, sexual assault and cruelty. The mother also faces a charge of murder. Both defendants deny the charges.

The child and her parents are not being named to protect her identity.

Opening the prosecution case, counsel told the jury the child had suffered a skull fracture, a subdural haemorrhage in her brain, fractured ribs, a broken right arm, multiple bruises and a burn covering her entire face.

The prosecution said the injuries had occurred on different occasions over at least five weeks before her death, culminating in fatal head injuries.

The mother was allegedly the only adult present when the fatal injuries were inflicted. Prosecutors said medical evidence indicated a forceful impact against a hard surface and severe shaking.

The court heard that the child had previously been taken into care and later returned to her parents. Prosecutors questioned whether the prospect of housing assistance had influenced their decision to care for her rather than proceed with adoption.

The prosecution alleged that the mother recorded videos showing her daughter lifeless and with a significant facial burn before calling emergency services, and that medical help had not been sought for the burn. Police attempted to save the child, who was later pronounced dead at hospital.

Prosecutors also alleged that the child had suffered sexual abuse.

The court heard that the father was living elsewhere under bail conditions following an arrest for allegedly assaulting the mother. Prosecutors said he had nevertheless seen his daughter and that her facial burn would have been highly visible.

The prosecution also described searches by the mother concerning mental health, burns and imprisonment for beating a child.

The trial continues.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

The case highlights systemic failures in child protection, as Isabella had been taken into care at birth but was returned to her parents nine months before her death.
The trial will examine the roles of both parents and whether social services were misled about the parents' intentions.
The outcome may influence child welfare practices regarding reunification of children with birth parents.

Background

Isabella Stasiak was born in December 2023 and was taken into care after birth, as her parents did not want her and did not believe in abortion. She was returned to their care in April 2024 after the parents changed their minds. She died on January 7, 2025, from head injuries. Her mother, Kinga Wydrzynska, is charged with murder. Both parents face multiple charges including causing or allowing serious physical harm to a child, assault of a child under 13 by penetration, and child cruelty.

Key Perspectives

Prosecution: Says Isabella was "unwanted" and subjected to "systemic physical abuse" that culminated in a forceful impact to her head, with the mother recorded complaining about camera angles while the child lay lifeless. Defendants: Michal Stasiak and Kinga Wydrzynska deny all charges, including murder, causing or allowing death, assault by penetration, and child cruelty. The trial continues.

What to Watch

The court will hear from medical experts and examine deleted videos and online searches made by Wydrzynska.
The trial, expected to last 12 weeks, will test whether Stasiak's absence from the home due to bail conditions affects his culpability.
Social services' decision to return Isabella to her parents will likely be scrutinised.

Sources

Parents subjected 'unwanted' baby to physical and sexual abuse before fatal head injury, court told · The Independent UK
Parents inflicted fatal physical and sexual abuse on their baby, Warwick court hears · The Guardian

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 9 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedThe parents were accused of abusing their young daughter before a fatal head injury, the court heard.The Independent UK: “Parents subjected 'unwanted' baby to physical and sexual abuse before fatal head injury, court told.”
SupportedThe child had a skull fracture.The Independent UK: “The court heard Isabella had injuries including a skull fracture, a subdural haemorrhage in her brain, fractured ribs, a broken right arm, multiple bruises and a burn covering her entire face when she died in hospital.”
SupportedThe child had fractured ribs.The Independent UK: “The court heard Isabella had injuries including a skull fracture, a subdural haemorrhage in her brain, fractured ribs, a broken right arm, multiple bruises and a burn covering her entire face when she died in hospital.”
Partly supportedThe summary says the child had facial burns.The Independent UK: “a burn covering her entire face”
Not in the sourcesThe summary says the child had sexual injuries.The Independent UK: “It became clear after her death that Isabella had also suffered sexual abuse, Ms Darlow told the court”
SupportedTwo parents are on trial at Warwick Crown Court.World news | The Guardian: “Michal Stasiak, 28, and Kinga Wydrzynska, 26, appeared at Warwick crown court on Tuesday, where they pleaded not guilty to 11 counts related to the death of Isabella Stasiak.”
SupportedThe mother faces a murder charge.World news | The Guardian: “Wydrzynska is charged with Isabella’s murder”
SupportedBoth defendants deny the charges.The Independent UK: “Wydrzynska, 26, of Johnson Avenue, in Rugby, and Stasiak, 28, of Blackwood Avenue, Rugby, deny causing or allowing the death of a child, four counts of causing or allowing serious physical harm to a child, two counts of assault of a child under 13 by penetration and three counts of cruelty to a person under 16. Wydrzynska also denies murder.”
Sources say otherwiseThe child and her parents are not being named to protect her identity.The Independent UK: “Isabella Stasiak, who had been “unwanted” and was taken into care after her birth in December 2023, was returned to her parents Michal Stasiak and Kinga Wydrzynska”
SupportedThe prosecution said the child had been seriously hurt on different occasions over at least five weeks before her death.The Independent UK: “The evidence shows that Isabella had been seriously hurt on different occasions over a period of at least five weeks before her death”
SupportedThe mother was the only adult present when the fatal injuries were inflicted.The Independent UK: “She said Wydrzynska was the only adult present in the house when the fatal injuries were inflicted”
SupportedProsecutors questioned whether the prospect of housing assistance influenced the parents’ decision to care for the child rather than proceed with adoption.The Independent UK: “In due course, you may wish to consider the extent to which the prospect of acquiring a new home influenced the defendants when they reversed their earlier firm decision to relinquish Isabella.”