Jury in trial of Dudley man accused of killing daughter discharged due to coronavirus

The trial at Birmingham Crown Court had only got underway on Monday – but the jury were discharged on Tuesday afternoon for reasons relating to coronavirus.

On what would have been the second day of Mr Peace's trial, a juror reported that their family member had suspected Covid symptoms. As a result, the judge, Mr Thomas Linden, discharged the juror and all the jury too.

Before he dismissed them, Mr Linden told the jury: "Juror number two has been discharged from further service in this case.

"As a consequence of that, the rest of the jury will be discharged from further service in the case."

A new jury was sworn in on Tuesday afternoon, and the prosecution will reopen the case on Wednesday morning.

The court had previously heard Peace allegedly shook his five-month-old daughter Summer in a “whiplash-style” motion which caused her death. Peace had called 999 after his daughter Summer became limp on September 8, 2017.

Summer was unresponsive and had to be taken to Russells Hall Hospital and later Birmingham Children’s Hospital for further treatment.

Doctors established she had suffered fatal brain injuries and it was agreed with her parents that her life support would be withdrawn a day later, a judge heard.

Summer died at 5.44pm on September 9 around 25 hours after she collapsed, jurors at Birmingham Crown Court were told.

Mr Andrew Smith QC, prosecuting, alleged the five-month-old girl suffered the fatal injuries to her brain after she was “intentionally shaken” by Peace.

Peace, 42, of Himley Road, Dudley, denies both murder and manslaughter.