Dudley nursery and its owner to face trial in connection with death of 14-month-old boy

ied after an incident at Fairytales Day Nursery in Bourne Street, Dudley, West Midlands, on December 9 2022.

At a previous hearing at Wolverhampton Crown Court, business owner

At the same hearing in June last year, a plea of not guilty was entered on behalf of the firm which ran the now-closed nursery to one count of corporate manslaughter, including an alleged failure to ensure that children in the baby room were put down to sleep in a safe way, failure to ensure that staff were adequately trained to put babies down to sleep and failure to ensure staff were adequately supervised while doing so.

The company also pleaded not guilty to failing to comply with a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act to ensure that Noah and others were not exposed to risk between November 29 and December 9 2022.

Appearing in the dock at the city’s crown court on Wednesday, Latewood spoke only to confirm her name during a brief hearing in front of Judge Michael Chambers KC.

A trial, expected to last three weeks, was set for April 16.

Addressing Latewood, Judge Chambers said: “The case remains adjourned for trial.

“If you choose not to attend, you run the risk it may proceed in your absence.

“Your bail is renewed as before.

“It is very important you stay in touch with your solicitors.”

A nursery worker previously admitted one count of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with Noah’s death.

Kimberley Cookson, now 23, was told in June last year that she would be sentenced upon conclusion of Latewood and the nursery’s trial.