A multi-agency review
looking at what lessons should be learned after a man tortured his young
stepdaughter to death, is to be published next year.
Daniel Bishop, 27, from Caerphilly, was jailed for 12 years for child cruelty,
wounding with intent and manslaughter.
His wife Sarah, 29, who like him was a heroin abuser, was jailed for six years
for child cruelty.
The judge is also to refer the case of Lois Lazenby, two, to the children's
commissioner.
Cardiff Crown Court heard how the child was systematically abused, tortured
and ultimately killed by her stepfather Bishop, after he moved in with her
mother in summer 2004.
When she died she was found to have 13 fractures, a cigarette burn and
crushing injuries to her hands, as well as more than 50 bruises, the court
heard.
On one occasion Lois suffered severe burns to her foot when her leg was placed
over a gas cooker hob.
The court heard how the little girl received no medical attention for her
injuries and how her mother did everything to hide her horrific injuries from
the authorities.
In October 2004 the child was placed on the Child Protection Register under
the category for social abuse.
In the end Bishop shook the child so hard she suffered a brain haemorrhage and
died two days later.
The court was told how Sarah Bishop even now did not think her husband had
committed any offence.
Judge Nicholas Cooke QC told the Bishops: "There are some cases in which
judges have to pass heavy sentences in order to express public revulsion to
acts that have been committed and to protect future potential victims. This is
such a case."
He said he wished to apportion no blame because he accepted that Lois's mother
did everything to hide her injuries from the authorities.
After the conclusion of the case, Caerphilly Local Safeguarding Children Board
said its review into the case would be completed in early 2008.
"It is agreed that now the criminal case is completed, a full multi-agency
review can be concluded to ensure that anything that can be learned about the
way that agencies worked together in this case is shared locally across Wales
and the UK."
The spokeswoman described Lois's death as an "appalling crime".
She added: "The Local Safeguarding Children Board wishes to commend Gwent
Police on their detailed, complex and lengthy investigation, using a broad
range of experts, to provide the evidence that Daniel Bishop was responsible
for a number of these injuries.
Both Daniel and Sarah Bishop failed to bring these injuries to the attention
of the safeguarding agencies."
Gwent Police sought help from medical experts as far afield as America in
their inquiry and Supt Peter Keen, the chief investigating officer, said it
was only after that the Bishops had entered guilty pleas.
"This was a very complicated case to investigate and it involved a nationwide
and international search for medical experts," he said.
"And it was as a result of that thorough work we've seen the Bishops enter
their pleas and be sentenced today.
Lois's grandmother Shereen Murphy issued a statement after the case saying
justice had been done, and had she known about the tragedy, she would have
tried to stop it.
However, neighbours on the estate in Caerphilly said they did try to raise the
alarm but nobody listened to them.
One, Diane Wiegold, said: "There was a little baby who died three years ago
and things have been swept under the carpet.
"It's as if the baby's life didn't matter to anybody. Us as neighbours seem to
care but no authorities, nobody ever listens."
Another, Nicola Brookman, said of Lois's death: "I can't get it out of my
mind. She'll always be with me. Nothing will bring her back.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7049864.stm
17 October 2007
Stepfather tortured two-year-old
A stepfather who tortured a toddler for four months until she died has been
jailed for 12 years and his wife sentenced to six years.
Daniel Bishop, 27, from Caerphilly carried out attacks on Lois Lazenby, two,
after moving in with her mother.
Bishop admitted child cruelty and manslaughter and wounding with intent to
cause grievous bodily harm to the two year old.
Sarah Bishop admitted child cruelty at Cardiff Crown Court.
John Charles Rees QC, prosecuting, said: "The little girl was systematically
abused, tortured and ultimately killed.
"When she died she was found to have 13 fractures to various parts of her
body, a cigarette burn, crushing injuries to both her hands and numerous
bruises to her head, body and limbs.
"The doctor who examined her said she would have suffered intense and
excruciating pain and significant disability.
"Lois received no medical attention and neither of the defendants did anything
to stop her nightmare."
The court heard that during one incident Bishop lifted the little girl's leg
onto a red-hot gas hob causing her severe burns to her left foot.
The temperature of the gas hob was estimated at 150 degrees centigrade.
Brain haemorrhage
Both Bishop and her mother claimed it was caused when she walked on boiling
water accidentally spilled from the kettle.
Bishop shook her so violently that she suffered a brain haemorrhage and died
two days later.
Lois' mother Sarah Bishop, 29, also admitted child cruelty for "turning a
blind eye".
But, the court heard, she was aware of what was going on because she crudely
tried to treat her little girl's injuries.
Even now Sarah believes that Bishop is the best thing that ever happened to
her and she does not think he committed any of the offences
John Charles Rees QC
Bishop, a drug user, started torturing the little girl "almost immediately"
after moving in with her mother Sarah in the summer of 2004.
Lois was two years and three months old when she died on 8 November 2004, at
the couple's home on the Lansbury Park housing estate in Caerphilly.
Mr Rees told the hearing: "Even now Sarah believes that Bishop is the best
thing that ever happened to her and she does not think he committed any of the
offences."
The court heard that two social workers visited the house following reports
from a a tradesman working nearby that Daniel Bishop had smacked the toddler.
"Sarah admitted Daniel Bishop smacked the child, " Mr Rees told the court. "It
was her view he was entitled to do so as a defacto parent."
I ask - do people really think that if I could have stopped this tragedy
happening, would I have allowed it to happen?
Shereen Murphy, Sarah Bishop's mother
Two weeks later Sarah took Lois to the doctors for a suspected ear infection.
She was told to bring her back a week later but she failed to do so.
The court heard there was a history of failing to keep appointments or
deliberately keeping Lois away from social workers at times when she was
obviously in pain.
Tests carried out on hair taken from Bishop to check him for drug use, showed
the highest level of heroin the forensic expert had ever seen.
A statement released by Sarah Bishop's mother Shereen Murphy said justice had
been done.
"Daniel Bishop has pleaded guilty to Lois's manslaughter. I am aware that a
small minority of the community are implying that I, as Lois's grandmother,
was aware of what that little girl was suffering and did nothing to stop it.
"I ask - do people really think that if I could have stopped this tragedy
happening, would I have allowed it to happen?"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7049529.stm
