Court date set for trial over toddler's death

A trial for Fairytales Day Nursery and owner Deborah Latewood has been set for 16 April at Wolverhampton Crown Court in relation to the death of 14-month-old Noah Sibanda, and Latewood and the company have pleaded not guilty.

A court has scheduled a trial for a nursery and its owner after the death of a 14-month-old boy. Noah Sibanda died following an incident at Fairytales Day Nursery in Dudley on 9 December 2022, and the nursery has since closed. Owner Deborah Latewood has denied breaching duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act. A former nursery worker has already admitted gross negligence manslaughter and is awaiting sentencing after the upcoming trial. Known details: - The death occurred on 9 December 2022 at Fairytales Day Nursery on Bourne Street, Dudley. - A trial for the nursery and owner Deborah Latewood is scheduled to start at Wolverhampton Crown Court on 16 April; Latewood and the company have entered not guilty pleas to the charges mentioned. - Nursery worker Kimberly Cookson, 23, previously pleaded guilty to one count of gross negligence manslaughter and will be sentenced after the conclusion of Latewood and the nursery's trial. Summary: The scheduled trial will address the charges against the nursery and its owner and is set to begin on 16 April at Wolverhampton Crown Court. Sentencing for the nursery worker who admitted gross negligence manslaughter is to follow after that trial.