Inquest into baby girl who died after getting trapped on lip of her ‘dangerous’ cot hears manufacturer blamed her toddler SISTER for death
Bednest makers callously implied the tot's sister had dragged her on top of the rail and "caused her death"
A BABY girl died after becoming trapped on the lip of her top-of-the-range cot - but the manufacturer cruelly suggested her toddler sister could have killed her.
A coroner ruled seven-week-old Grace Roseman was tragically killed when she lifted her head over the foldable side of her "dangerous" Bednest cot in April last year.
But lawyers for the cot maker implied that a third party must have been involved in Grace's death because she was too young to lift her head over the side.
Speaking after senior coroner Penelope Schofield gave a conclusion of accidental death on the final day of the inquest at County Hall, in Horsham, West Sussex, lawyers representing the devastated family said Bednest had callously tried blaming Grace's toddler sister for the tragedy.
In a statement from Fieldfisher, the law firm representing the Roseman family, Jill Greenfield said that the coroner had "rejected allegations made by experts instructed by Bednest that Grace's toddler sister had potentially dragged Grace onto the top of the rail of the cot and caused her death".
She added: "Mr and Mrs Roseman were deeply affected by this untruth.
"Grace died more than a year-and-a-half ago and the Rosemans have had to live through hell waiting to confirm what happened - that the NCT Bednest cot caused the death of their beloved baby girl.
"During that time, they have also had to fight unfounded allegations put forward by experts instructed by Bednest that Grace's toddler sister was in some way potentially responsible for Grace's death.
"Gideon and Esther are bewildered, shocked and deeply hurt by the suggestion that their other daughter could possibly be implicated in Grace's death.
"They always knew that the Bednest cot killed their baby.
"Rather than force the Rosemans to undergo cross-examination at this inquest, Bednest could and should have apologised to the family, something that still hasn't happened.
"The Rosemans finally feel that justice had been done in Grace's name.
"They desperately hope that no other parents will ever have to go through a similar tragedy."
Mum Esther, who discovered her baby daughter's lifeless body, added: "Please don't buy this cot, or even use it second-hand.
"And considering what you have just heard, I would question whether you should anything form this company whatsoever."
During the three-day inquest, the court heard from experts how the cot posed a "significant hazard" to any child old enough to lift their head
Seven-week-old Grace tragically died of asphyxiation in the ";dangerous" £199 Bednest cot after she became caught on the edge when she lifted her head over one of the fold-down sides.
Her lifeless body was discovered by heartbroken mum Esther, who screamed "Grace is dead" as the horror unfolded on April 9, 2015.
Four paediatricians discussed the safety of the Bednest at County Hall in Horsham, West Sussex, today and whether Grace would have been able to prop her head over the 7cm lip on the side.
Dr Betty Hutchon, a paediatric occupational therapist, said: "I was horrified when I saw the crib because of the bar going across.
"Seeing the height of the bar, and knowing what babies can do, I could see that the bar holding the side in that position would be a very big hazard if they baby fell on it."
She added: "For me, it seems very dangerous for a baby and the design is flawed and needs to be changed."
The cot, which was given to the devastated family by a friend, is able to be folded at the side, allowing mothers easier access to their children.
The company had suggested in marketing material that mums are able to leave their children unattended while the side was folded down, but the instructions - which Esther did not have access to - advised against this.
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The inquest had also heard how Bednest "fundamentally disagree" with the conclusion that the product was dangerous.
But the hearing was told by Trading Standards that it failed to comply with basic safety instructions after being tested by CPSA, Consumer Product Safety Advice.
Bednest apparently agreed to contact their customer base and provide a 'modification kit' - which included two screws and a screwdriver to prevent the side of the cot wall from being half-folded - but declined to offer a full-on recall of the product.
Baby Grace was thought to be sleeping in her room when she became caught on the edge of her Bednest cot and died - with her mum Esther making the heart-breaking discovery.
Speaking previously about the horror of discovering her daughter was dead, Esther said: "I found Grace with her head hanging over the side, facing upwards.
"Her head was on the side which was half-folded. She was purple in colour. It was obvious she had been there some time - there was no sign of any life. I started screaming, 'Grace is dead'."
Esther told the hearing that her husband Gideon had been sleeping in the other room due to illness, and rushed in once he heard her screaming.
The frantic family rushed to Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath. Esther said: "She was never going to be saved, it was obvious.
"It was desperate, but the doctor even said that as soon as we brought her in, they knew she was gone.
"When I made the 999 call, I never said, 'she's passed out'. I said, 'my baby's dead'.
"It was apparent she had been there a long time, and I was just having a bath."
Gideon Roseman, Esther's husband and Grace's father, also gave evidence from the morning of his daughters death.
He said: "I did see Esther holding Grace and I did see that Grace was gone. Blood was starting to pool."
Prior to the discovery, Esther told the court her other child thought of Esther as their "whole world" and was affected by the birth of Grace.
She added that a friend had relative had lent her the cot, but "it didn't come with any straps or instructions" - something Bednest argued would have negated the risk to Grace.
Senior coroner Penelope Schofield issued a 'regulation 28' report to 'prevent future deaths' and confirmed she would also be writing to the Secretary of State for business regarding the cot.
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