Grandmother denies assaulting toddler who died after head injury

A GRANDMOTHER accused of the murder of a two-year-old has denied assaulting the child.

- By ELEANOR BARLOW

Kerry Ives, 46, and her husband, Michael Ives, 47, are alleged to have been in the living room of their home in Flintshire with grandson Ethan Ives-Griffiths on August 14, 2021, when he suffered a "catastrophic" head injury, leading to his death two days later.

Giving evidence at Mold Crown Court yesterday, Kerry Ives was asked by Owen Edwards KC, defending: "Did you assault Ethan on August 14?"

She replied: "No."

Ives also denied seeing, helping with or encouraging an assault on that date.

The grandmother, who wiped her eyes with a tissue at points during her evidence, described Ethan as a "bubbly little child" and said he came to stay at their home in Garden City from about June 24, 2021, for a few weeks, before going back to his mother - her daughter, Shannon Ives.

Shannon and Ethan then both came to stay at the house from July 16 until his death, the court heard.

Asked how her daughter behaved towards Ethan, Ives said: "She used to smack him, up the head."