A woman has been found guilty of allowing the death of her two-year-old son after he was fatally assaulted by her partner.
Zoe Coutts, 35, was convicted at Southwark Crown Court following the death of Kol Page, who suffered catastrophic injuries while in her care in Bromley, south-east London.
Scott O’Connor, 36, was found guilty of manslaughter after the court heard he inflicted serious internal injuries on the toddler.
Emergency services were called to the family home in April 2022 after reports the child was not breathing.
Kol was taken to hospital, where doctors found injuries consistent with blunt force trauma, including blows to the abdomen. He later suffered severe brain damage.
View on Threads
Despite initial claims that the injuries were caused by accidents, investigators uncovered evidence of sustained abuse over a prolonged period.
The court heard the pair repeatedly provided false explanations for Kol’s injuries, including claims he was “clumsy” and had fallen.
Medical evidence contradicted those accounts, with experts concluding the injuries were caused by deliberate force.
Messages between Coutts and O’Connor revealed discussions about the child’s injuries, alongside attempts to conceal the extent of harm.
Coutts was also found to have delayed seeking medical assistance, with evidence suggesting this contributed to the severity of Kol’s condition.
After spending more than a year in hospital, Kol was later placed with a foster family. He died in June 2024 as a result of the injuries he sustained.
Detectives said the case involved a prolonged pattern of abuse in the child’s home environment.
Both defendants were arrested following the incident, with the investigation supported by medical evidence, digital records and witness accounts.