Foster mother 'battered 18-month-old to death with such force the little girl had broken legs and ribs and severe head and spine injuries' 

Kandyce Downer (pictured), 35, is accused of beating little Keegan Downer to death

A mum battered her 18-month-old foster daughter to death which such force the child suffered more than 90 injuries, a court heard today.

Kandyce Downer, 35, is accused of beating little Keegan Downer so ferociously that she had broken legs and ribs, and suffered severe head and spine injuries.

The little girl, who was fostered by Downer after her drug addict mum was unable to look after her, died last September.

A post mortem revealed she had 91 injuries to her body, including 29 recent scars and marks to her head and neck.

Keegan, also known as Shi-Anne, was found unconscious at Downer's home in Weoley Castle, Birmingham, on September 5 last year after suffering a cardiac arrest.

She was rushed to Birmingham Children's Hospital but was pronounced dead.

Mother-of-four Downer appeared at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday where she denied murder and causing or allowing the death of a child.

The court heard Keegan was born on March 9, 2014, and soon after was put into foster care.

In January last year she went to live with Downer, who was studying a full-time business course and became the tot's legal guardian.

Prosecutor Nigel Power QC said Keegan went to nursery on June 5, 2015.

He said: 'That was the last time any professionals had anything to do with Keegan.

'Three months later on the morning of September 5 the defendant called 999 from her home address.'

She told the operator: 'My daughter is not breathing.' She was told to blow in her mouth.

When paramedics arrived Downer told them she did not know when the toddler had stopped breathing because she had been in the bath.

The toddler had broken legs and ribs, and suffered severe head and spine injuries in the lead up to her death. Keegan, also known as Shi-Anne, was found unconscious at Downer's home in Weoley Castle, Birmingham, on September 5 after suffering a cardiac arrest

Mr Power said: 'The likelihood is that Keegan was already dead when paramedics arrived.

'A large number of people tried to save Keegan but it was already too late.

'Since she died an equally large number of people have tried to establish how in fact she died.

'The prosecution say the picture was one of repeated episodes of inflicted injury and apparent neglect.'

The court heard Keegan had 49 older scars and other marks to the face and body, 29 signs of recent injury to the head and neck and 13 of recent injury to her body.

She also had bruises to both arms and her right leg. The court heard the injuries could have been caused up to a month before her death.

Mr Power said: 'There were numerous old and new fractures to her legs and ribs and there was historic traumatic injury, possibly caused on more than one occasion, to her head and spine.

'The fractures would have caused pain and would have been obvious to anyone around her.

'All those repeated traumas ultimately caused Keegan to die from a combination of septicaemia, blunt chest trauma and old head injuries.'

Mr Power said Downer admitted having full responsibility for Keegan and that she was the 'only one candidate' for causing the injuries over a significant period of time. 

Pathologists found multiple rib fractures caused by blunt force trauma and lacerations to the lining of the lips which may have been caused by hard slaps, punching, or force feeding bottles or cutlery into her mouth.

A policeman stands outside Downer's home - where Keegan was found unconcious on September 5 last year

Consultant paediatrician Dr Ben Stanhope said a fracture to Keegan's right femur would have left her in 'excruciating pain'.

In a written statement he told the court: 'It is unquestionable that a fracture to the femur of this nature would have caused Keegan excruciating pain.

'It is likely that she will have cried, possibly screamed, extensively on many occasions.

'Rib fractures are typically very painful injuries. They will have caused persistent severe pain for Keegan every time she moved her trunk or breathed.

'It is inconceivable that any parent or carer looking after Keegan at the time of any of the injuries would not have been very obviously aware of her pain and distress.

'The injuries to the upper and lower lip are the most severe I have seen in over 20 years working in paediatrics.'

Keegan died from septicaemia, blunt chest trauma, an old head injury and a bacterial infection.

She weighed 8.05kg (17.7lbs) at the time of her death and a post-mortem showed signs of 'developmental regression'.

The tragic toddler was rushed to Birmingham Children's Hospital (pictured) but was pronounced dead on arrival

Doctors said the injuries to her mouth and lips could have made it too painful for the tot to eat or drink.

Pathologists concluded that there were 'repeated episodes of inflicted injury and neglect'.

The court heard that a large number of scars on her skin were not noticed in the earlier stages of her life when she was being seen regularly by health professionals.

Prosecutor Nigel Power QC said: 'Murder is the charge we say the defendant is undoubtedly guilty of.

'There is no other realistic candidate for the infliction, over a sustained period, of those many and terrible injuries that led to Keegan's death.

'Her [Downer's] actions on the morning that the emergency services were called are entirely in keeping with her being guilty of murder - namely, twice leaving her [Keegan] alone at home, once to dispose of bedding.'

Christopher Millington QC, defending, said: 'The crucial question in this case is likely to be who caused these injuries to Keegan.

'Miss Downer denies causing any injuries or being aware that anyone else had done so.'

The trial resumes tomorrow.