Alfie Lamb: Man crushed girlfriend's son to death with car seat while saying he would 'not be told what to do by a three-year-old', court hears

'He shouted at Alfie and told him to shut up,' mother says of partner Stephen Waterson

A man crushed his girlfriend’s son to death with his car seat because he “would not be told what to do by a three-year-old”, a court has heard.

Stephen Waterson, son of former government minister Nigel Waterson, allegedly became “annoyed” at toddler Alfie Lamb’s cries and twice pushed his chair into the boy, who was sitting in the passenger footwell.

The 25-year-old denies manslaughter along with his partner Adrian Hoare, 23, who is accused of failing to prevent her child’s death.

Giving evidence at London’s Old Bailey, Ms Hoare said her son was tired and moaning after a shopping trip to Sutton, south London, on the day in February last year.

On the journey to their home in Croydon, south London, there were six people in Mr Waterson’s Audi convertible, including two children in the rear footwell.

Alfie’s mother said he was “irritable and tired” and made it known he was uncomfortable.

When Mr Waterson first moved his front seat back, Alfie called out “Mummy”, prompting her to ask him to move forward again, jurors heard.

Ms Hoare, a hairdresser, said: “When he first moved the chair back, Alfie was still moving about and had room so I did not think there was a problem. He was just calling “Mummy”. It obviously made Alfie uncomfortable with the amount of space he did have.

“Stephen got annoyed with him. He shouted at Alfie and told him to shut up. It made him jump when Stephen shouted at him and he started to cry more. Alfie had got louder when he got scared at Stephen shouting and obviously Stephen being annoyed was quite loud as well.”

She added: “After he said that he did not have room for his legs, he made another comment along the lines he was not being told what to do by a three-year-old because we asked for the chair to be moved, and he moved his chair back again.”

The defendant said she never thought Alfie was in danger or in trouble and assumed when he stopped crying and went quiet that he had fallen asleep.

On arriving at Mr Waterson’s home, Alfie went all “floppy”, jurors heard.

Ms Hoare said: “Everybody thought he was playing to start with. He was just all floppy, but he’s done it before when he has not wanted to do something. He would muck about and not respond.”

After paramedics were called, Mr Waterson left the scene, the court heard.

The defendants went on to lie to authorities about what happened, the court has been told.

Ms Hoare, who is originally from Gravesend in Kent, denies manslaughter, child cruelty and common assault on Emilie Williams, who was also in the car.

Mr Waterson, a nightclub worker, has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and intimidation of the driver Marcus Lamb.

The couple and Ms Williams have pleaded guilty to conspiring to pervert the course of justice by making false statements to police.

The trial continues.

Additional reporting by Press Association