Mother, 48, appears in court charged with killing her ‘wonderful’ daughter who had Down’s Syndrome after 24-year-old was found starved to death and infected with scabies
- Elaine Clarke appeared in court today charged with causing daughter’s death
- Deborah Leitch had Down’s Syndrome and was found dead at house in Blackpool
- Post mortem examination gave cause of death as severe emaciation and neglect
A mother accused of killing her own daughter who has Down’s Syndrome after the 24-year-old was found starved to death and infected with scabies has appeared in court.
Elaine Clarke, 48, has been charged with causing the death of Deborah Leitch, who was found dead inside her home in Blackpool in September 2019.
A post mortem examination found she died from severe emaciation and neglect, with an extensive scabies skin infection.
Elaine Clarke (left) is accused of killing her 24-year-old daughter Debbie Leitch (right) who had Down’s syndrome and was found emaciated with a severe skin infection at a home in Blackpool
Police officers were called to the home in South Shore, Blackpool, where Deborah was found
Clarke is accused of manslaughter, while Robert John Bruce, 45, who was thought to be Clarke’s partner at the time, is accused of causing Ms Leitch’s death and failing to protect her.
A statement issued on behalf of Ms Leitch’s family previously described her as a ‘wonderful girl’ who was ‘always happy, and always friendly’.
Clarke and Bruce were sent for a trial at Preston Crown Court and will appear on May 19.
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