A man from North London has been charged with murdering his six-year-old daughter after violently shaking her as a newborn, resulting in catastrophic brain injuries and lifelong disabilities, a court heard.
The Old Bailey trial revealed that baby Primrose, just three weeks old in November 2014, suffered a severe brain injury at their home in North London. She lived with her father, Kyle Kitchen, 38, and mother, Kenzey Kane, 31.
Jurors were told that the couple had a volatile relationship. During a domestic argument, Kitchen allegedly slapped Kane multiple times while she was holding their crying baby. Later that night, Kane called 111, distressed because Primrose had become floppy and unresponsive after making strange noises.
Kitchen reportedly searched online for “baby won’t wake up” before contacting emergency services. Paramedics rushed Primrose to the Royal Free Hospital, where scans revealed a skull fracture and severe brain injury. Kane told doctors, “It’s not like we knocked her or anything,” but could not explain the infant’s injuries.
In 2015, Kitchen was convicted at Blackfriars Crown Court of two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent related to the skull fracture and shaking injuries. He was sentenced to 18 years, later reduced to 15 on appeal. Kitchen served half of his sentence before being automatically released, but was then re-arrested and charged with murder. Kane received a three and a half year sentence for child cruelty.
Primrose’s injuries caused cerebral palsy, severe feeding difficulties, inability to speak, and drug-resistant epilepsy. By 2016, a do-not-resuscitate order was put in place due to the severity of her condition. She attended a special school in Plumstead, South-East London, where her headteacher described her as “characterful.”
On May 16, 2021, Primrose was found unresponsive by her maternal grandmother, Maria Kane, who was sleeping beside her. Paramedics were unable to revive her, and she was pronounced dead at 5:23 a.m. A post-mortem confirmed that her death was directly caused by the traumatic brain injury sustained in infancy.
Now, Kyle Kitchen faces murder charges. Prosecutor Jennifer Knight KC told the jury, “Kyle Kitchen’s convictions prove that he is guilty, not merely of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, but of murder.” Kitchen denies the charge. The trial is ongoing at the Old Bailey.
Originally published by UKNIP.
