Kerry and Michael Ives are currently on trial for the murder of Ethan Ives-Griffiths
Kerry Ives, 46, and her husband Michael, 47, are accused of the murder of their two-year-old grandson Ethan Ives-Griffiths
A nan accused of murdering her grandson told a 999 operator he had “gone all limp”. Kerry and Michael Ives are currently on trial accused of murdering their two-year-old grandson Ethan Ives-Griffiths – the grandparents, of Kingsley Road, Garden City, Deeside, deny the charges.
Harrowing footage was played at Mold Crown Court on Monday, June 9. Kerry Ives, 46, rang emergency services after Ethan became poorly at their Deeside home. The court heard the call handler providing first aid advice until the ambulance arrived.
One of the paramedics carried the infant in her arms to an ambulance. But tragically Ethan died two days later at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital on August 16, 2021. Prosecutor Caroline Rees KC played audio of the call at Mold Crown Court.
Kerry Ives is heard ringing 999 and the call handler asks if the boy is awake. She replies: “I don’t know.” The call handler then asks: “Are you getting any response from him?” She responds: “Nothing. He’s been watching the telly and he fell to the floor. He’s gone all limp.
Fellow defendant Michael Ives, 47, tells the call handler his grandson is “unresponsive”. He is given an access code and drives to fetch a defibrillator. But Ethan, who an earlier hearing was told had suffered 40 injuries, did not survive
The jury of seven women and five men were played clips of police body-worn camera footage after the 999 call was made. In the footage a police officer is seen entering the house in Kingsley Road.
Michael Ives and Kerry Ives took Ethan to Tesco at Broughton retail park even after his mother Shannon said he was “poorly”(Image: North Wales Police)
Michael Ives tells the officer: “Yesterday (August 13) he fell (at 3pm or 4pm) and hurt himself. But I managed to bring him round after three minutes and he was fine. He (had) fell back and I couldn’t catch him and he landed on the rug and hit his head on the rug. I brought him round and he was alright.
“Today he had his breakfast and his dinner and his tea. Me and my wife were in the living room. He was standing there one minute (just after 9pm). I could see him falling backwards and I grabbed him and he collapsed. So I picked him up.
“He was breathing and he was just glaring. And he had gone all limp. I lay him on the carpet and wet his face with water to try and bring him around. I took him outside to see if it would help.”
On Monday, the jury also heard Ethan’s mum, Shannon Ives, 28, of Nant Garmon, Mold, allegedly told a relative she “couldn’t cope” and was “sick of speaking” to her son Ethan. She is charged with causing or allowing the death of the two-year-old boy, and cruelty to a child under 16.
CCTV image issued by North Wales Police of Michael Ives (right) watching two-year-old Ethan Ives (yellow T-shirt) on a trampoline in the back garden of the family home in Garden City, Deeside. (Image: North Wales Police )
The court heard Shannon and Ethan were living with Michael and Kerry Ives in Kingsley Road, Garden City by June 2021.
Detective constable Lee Harshey Jones read out a text from July 20, 2021 from Ethan’s mum Shannon messaging a relative to say she was: “Sick of speaking to Ethan.” When asked why, she replied: “Just won’t listen, as usual.”
On June 24, 2021 Shannon messaged her mum Kerry Ives to say “CBA today”. DC Lee Harshey told prosecutor Caroline Rees KC he took that to mean “Can’t be a***d”.
Ms Rees KC said Shannon Ives texted Flying Start health visitor Ellie Jones to say Ethan was “really poorly” on August 13, 2021. The health visitor messaged Shannon Ives that day to say: “Hope Ethan is OK. Does he need to see a doctor?”
She replied: “No it’s because he’s not getting enough sleep. Just been giving him Calpol.” He was in fact at Tesco in Broughton with Michael and Kerry Ives at that time, the court heard.
CCTV footage of Ethan Ives-Griffiths with grandparents Michael and Kerry Ives outside their home. Michael and Kerry Ives are accused of murdering their grandson(Image: North Wales Police handout)
The jury saw also footage from a CCTV camera at the front of the Ives property in Garden City. It showed Michael Ives carrying Ethan by an arm and putting him into a car, on August 12, 2021.
The prosecutor said there appeared to be “two downward motions” then by Michael inside the car. DC Harshey Jones agreed.
Also today the jury saw CCTV footage and still images from the Ives’ back garden of Ethan on a trampoline, not long before his death on August 16.
There was a paddling pool in the back garden near the trampoline. Ms Rees told the court Michael Ives turned the hose towards Ethan, who was on the trampoline, for eight seconds. Soon afterwards Ethan responded by struggling to get to his feet, she said.
Another child ran on the trampoline and made Ethan bounce and take his hands off his head. But Ethan put his hands back on his head, as he was watched by Michael Ives, Ms Rees said.
All three defendants deny all the charges. The trial continues.