Gemma Procter Charged With Murder Of Baby Elliot Procter As Solicitor Appeals For Witnesses

A witness thought the child was a doll.

The solicitor representing the 23-year-old woman charged with the murder of an 18-month old baby who fell from a sixth floor window has asked for witnesses to come forward.

Sajad Chaudhury told a district judge Gemma Procter denies the charge of murdering Elliot Procter after the infant fell from a block of flats in Bradford, West Yorkshire.

Chaudhury was speaking as Procter appeared for a 10-minute appearance at Bradford Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

A police officer on a balcony at Newcastle House in Bradford, where 18-month-old Elliot Procter died following a fall from a sixth-floor window
A police officer on a balcony at Newcastle House in Bradford, where 18-month-old Elliot Procter died following a fall from a sixth-floor window
PA Wire/PA Images

District Judge Michael Fanning partially lifted the normal reporting restrictions which limit what media can report at such hearings so Chaudhury could make an appeal to anyone who had information about or footage of “behaviour” in the Newcastle House block in the days leading up to Elliot’s death.

Chaudhury did not specify what incidents he was referring to but said: “People may have thought them insignificant but, for us, they may be significant.”

The child died when he fell from Newcastle House on Barkerend Road, Bradford.

The incident was reported to police at about 5.10pm on Saturday.

Attempts were made to save the toddler who, witnesses said, was naked as he fell on to the cobbles.

Despite the efforts of people at the flats in the Barkerend area of the city, police said it was quickly apparent that he had died.

The BBC reported that one witness explained how she, her husband and a friend tried to save the child.

Danuta Tomaszewicz said she thought the child was a doll because he was naked when she noticed him on the ground.

Her niece, Monika, said: “She screamed for help and her husband and his friend ran downstairs.

“The friend took his shirt off because the baby was naked.”

Procter, of Newcastle House, Bradford, stood in the glass front-dock flanked by two security guards and clearly upset for the short hearing.

She spoke to confirm her personal details and that she understood the charge.

Wearing a grey sweatshirt and grey tracksuit bottoms and sporting long red hair, the defendant acknowledged family at the back of the court.

One young man shouted “love you, babe” and Procter said the same back as she was led from the dock.

Procter was remanded in custody and will appear again before Bradford Crown Court on Wednesday.

Outside court, Chaudhury repeated his appeal.

Defence solicitor Sajad Chaudhury outside Bradford Magistrates' Court as he appealed for witnesses to come forward following an incident where Gemma Procter is charged with the murder of 18-month-old Elliot Procter.
Defence solicitor Sajad Chaudhury outside Bradford Magistrates' Court as he appealed for witnesses to come forward following an incident where Gemma Procter is charged with the murder of 18-month-old Elliot Procter.
PA Wire/PA Images

He said: “Our thoughts are with the families of everyone who lives at Newcastle House.

“The tragic events of October 21 2017 will affect their lives for a long time.

“We would invite any witnesses who live in that block of apartments, any witnesses who have been in that area, any witnesses on any floor – specifically the 5th the 6th and the 7th floor – who may have seen behaviour, who may have seen any incident, any episodes, that they think are insignificant to them but may be relevant to us, we invite them to contact the police.

“Anybody who’s got any CCTV footage, anybody who’s got any video footage of any bizarre incident in the days leading up to the 21st October 2017, and concluding at 5pm, around that mark.

“What we’re asking for is anything. You may think it is insignificant but, for us, it may be very important.

“We are well aware that there are eight floors with shops at the bottom of Newcastle House and a large area at the front of Newcastle House.

“Every floor has a long corridor and that means a lot of residents living in that location. Anyone might have seen anything.

“I would invite you to contact the police and report any incident.”

Flowers, teddies and balloons have been left outside the block of flats.

One message said: “You grew your angel wings too soon.”

Another said: “You’ve been taken away too soon, before your life had hardly begun. You’ve touched the hearts of many.”

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