Kyrell Matthews was found in cardiac arrest at his home in Thornton Heath last year
(Picture: Met Police)The mother of a two-year-old boy who was beaten to death at his south London home has today denied his murder.
Phylesia Shirley, 23, is accused alongside former partner Kemar Brown, 27, of killing toddler Kyrell Matthews in October 2019.
Kyrell was found in cardiac arrest at home in Thornton Heath, south London, on October 20 last year, with a post mortem finding he had suffered “blunt force trauma” and 39 rib fractures.
At the Old Bailey this morning, they both pleaded not guilty to murdering Kyrell, and also denied causing or allowing the death of a child.
On the second charge, it is said Kyrell died “as a result of an unlawful act by a member of the household”, and Shirley and Brown either killed him themselves or “ought to have been aware of the risk and failed to take such steps as you would be reasonably expected to take”.
Judge Anthony Leonard QC set their trial for January 5 next year.
Shirley and Brown, both from separate addresses in Thornton Heath, are no longer a couple.
