THE family of murdered toddler Star Hobson have spoken of their heartache one year on from the initial sentencing of two women including her mother.
Star died from catastrophic abdominal injuries caused by blunt force trauma on September 22, 2020. She was 16 months old.
Savannah Brockhill, the girlfriend of Star's mother Frankie Smith, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years for the murder of Star at their flat in Wesley Place, Keighley.
Meanwhile, Smith was initially jailed for eight years for causing, or allowing, her death following a trial which concluded at Bradford Crown Court on December 15 last year. She was cleared of murder and manslaughter but convicted of causing or allowing the death of her daughter.
But Smith’s sentence was quashed in March this year at the Court of Appeal, and extended to 12 years which she must serve in a Young Offender's Institution.
Now Star’s great-grandfather David Fawcett and his partner Anita Smith have given an insight into the grief they still try to cope with on a daily basis one year on from the end of the trial.
Mr Fawcett said: “It was a pretty traumatic time that we were going through.
“I always take flowers down to Star’s grave every week. I go down two or three times a week. I always keep her resting place nice.
“I can’t believe how fast that time has gone. I can relive some of the days in court. Certain incidents that I remember in court.
It’s just unbelievable. It takes its toll. It’s completely torn the family apart. We are trying to look after each other
“We are just trying to keep going and make sure everybody is OK.
“We pretend we are OK, but really we’re not. We just have to put a brave face on.
“When we wake up the first thing we think about is Star and the last thing we think about at night is Star.
“People say that time is a good healer. We just feel the same way every day, it does not seem to get any better for us.
I get a lift when I see a star lit up on a tree. I just feel she is there and looking out for us
“People have been absolutely amazing. If it was not for them, I don’t know how we would have coped.”
Meanwhile, Shipley MP Philip Davies says he still has no faith in Bradford Council’s leadership following Star’s death.
Mr Davies said: "One year on, the sentences handed out - particularly to Star's mother - remain insufficient to properly punish them for the unimaginable cruelty they inflicted on Star.
"It remains an outrage that the leadership of Bradford Council remains in place and hasn't taken responsibility for the catalogue of failings Star's case revealed."
Keighley MP Robbie Moore MP said: "Following continuous failings year after year from Bradford Council’s Children’s Services, which included the failure to take complaints made before the murder of Star Hobson seriously, I am pleased the government stepped in to strip Bradford Council of running children’s services across the district.
"The new Bradford Children and Families Trust is in the process of being finalised and will take effect from April next year. I of course want to see improvements made immediately, and therefore it is vital the Trust is given full support, so we can ensure children in our area are cared for, protected and given the support they need.
"Dysfunctionality within Bradford Council between management, leadership, and those working hard on the ground to provide social services has been highlighted in previous reports. It is therefore my hope this new structure will address these problems quickly and most importantly deliver for the young children in Keighley and our wider district."
Bradford Council’s leadership were told in September this year they must be held to account over failings in the lead-up to Star’s death.
A cross-party group of MPs wrote to then Education Secretary Kit Malthouse to tell him they are “extremely concerned” about whether Kersten England, chief executive of the council, is up to the job of improving children’s services in the district.
But Bradford Council argued it is making the required changes “at pace”.
Appearing before a Parliamentary Select Committee in June this year, Ms England rebuffed talk of resignation but said she would 'step away' if improvements were not made.
Ms England told the committee: "I have thought of resigning and have considered my position. Frequently, I have reflected on all the actions I took and things that could and could not have been done.
"I take responsibility. This happened on my watch and I'm deeply sorry it happened on my watch.
"Taking responsibility is all about staying in position and putting it right. Stability in leadership is critical."
The Telegraph & Argus contacted the council for a new response, but had not received it as we went to press.
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