ELSIE SCULLY-HICKS: THE 18-MONTH-OLD GIRL WHOSE LIFE ENDED IN THE HOME OF HER ADOPTIVE FATHER

Cardiff, Wales — Elsie Scully-Hicks was only 18 months old when her life came to a devastating end inside the home where she was supposed to be protected.

In November 2017, her adoptive father, Matthew Scully-Hicks, was sentenced to life in prison after a jury unanimously convicted him of murdering the toddler.

The court heard that Elsie suffered catastrophic injuries while in Scully-Hicks’ care at the family home in Llandaff, Cardiff, on May 25, 2016. She died four days later in hospital.

On November 7, 2017, Mrs Justice Nicola Davies sentenced Scully-Hicks to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 18 years. In her sentencing remarks, the judge described Elsie as a “young, vulnerable and defenceless child” who had been entrusted to the care of her adoptive parents.

A CHILD WHO HAD JUST FOUND A HOME

Elsie was born in November 2014 and was initially known to her biological family as Shayla O’Brien.

She was removed from her birth family shortly after birth and later entered foster care.

On September 10, 2015, when she was around 10 months old, Elsie went to live with Matthew Scully-Hicks, his husband Craig Scully-Hicks and their other adopted child.

Matthew became the stay-at-home parent while Craig continued working full-time.

The couple formally adopted Elsie on May 12, 2016.

Just 13 days later, she suffered the injuries that ultimately ended her life.

THE FINAL HOURS

On May 25, 2016, Matthew Scully-Hicks was caring for Elsie at the family’s home.

Earlier that day, according to evidence reported during the trial, he had taken her shopping for an outfit for a celebration of her adoption.

Later that evening, shortly before 6:19 p.m., Elsie suffered a catastrophic collapse.

Emergency services were called.

Paramedics arrived to find the toddler unresponsive, without a pulse and not breathing. She was taken to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.

Doctors found extensive injuries.

According to the sentencing judgment, Elsie had suffered a severe brain injury, bleeding around the brain and in multiple areas of the eyes, a full-thickness skull fracture and fractures to three ribs.

The judge concluded that the rib fractures were caused when Elsie was gripped around the chest with enough force to break the bones. The court also found that she had been shaken violently and that the skull fracture resulted from an impact with a hard surface.

Elsie never recovered.

She died in hospital on May 29, 2016, four days after the incident.

THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED AT TRIAL

Scully-Hicks denied murdering Elsie.

During the trial, he told the court that he had found her unresponsive and called an ambulance. When asked whether he could explain her injuries, he said he could not.

He also denied causing them.

Prosecutors presented evidence concerning injuries Elsie had suffered before the fatal incident.

The trial heard about bruising and other injuries, including a broken leg. Medical professionals, social workers and other witnesses were questioned about their contact with the child before her death.

The prosecution also relied on text messages sent by Scully-Hicks in which he used derogatory descriptions of Elsie, including references to her as “Satan” and “the exorcist.”

The defense argued that the messages did not demonstrate that he had physically harmed the child.

The jury ultimately rejected his account.

After a lengthy trial, jurors unanimously found Scully-Hicks guilty of murder.

THE JUDGE’S FINDINGS

At sentencing, Justice Nicola Davies gave a detailed account of what she concluded had happened.

She said Scully-Hicks had gripped Elsie around the chest, causing fractures to her ribs, and shaken her with sufficient force to cause severe brain and eye injuries. The judge also concluded that the skull fracture resulted from an impact against a hard surface.

The judge said the injuries caused Elsie’s immediate collapse.

She also concluded that frustration with Elsie’s behavior had turned into anger and that this led to the fatal assault.

Most significantly, the judge described the killing as a gross abuse of the trust placed in Scully-Hicks as Elsie’s adoptive father.

Scully-Hicks was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 18 years.

A FAMILY LEFT WITH GRIEF

Elsie’s biological family had continued to maintain contact with her while she was in foster care.

Her birth grandmother, Sian O’Brien, later described the family’s devastation in a victim impact statement.

The family said they had been deeply attached to Elsie and believed she would still be alive had she remained in their care.

For them, the tragedy was not only the loss of a little girl but the loss of an entire future they had imagined for her.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SYSTEM

The case also raised questions about whether warning signs had been missed before Elsie’s death.

After her murder, an independent review examined the involvement of soci