Teenager jailed for life after being found guilty of murder of four-month-old baby

A teenager has been jailed for life for the murder of a four-month-old baby left in his care.

On Sunday 2 January 2022, just before 10.50pm, the force was called to reports that a baby had suffered a cardiac arrest at his home in Acorn Drive, Belper.

Elijah Shemwell was taken to hospital by ambulance in a critical condition but died three days later.

A post-mortem found that he had suffered significant injuries in the days leading to his death. Elijah had suffered a significant brain injury which, in the view of medical experts, had been caused by being shaken. He had also suffered a number of broken ribs which had been caused by being squeezed.

The fatal shaking incident took place when Elijah’s mother, India Shemwell, was out of the house, and had left Elijah in the care of Alesbrook.

Shortly after India arrived home Elijah was taken ill, and she called 999 as Elijah’s breathing became distressed. This breathing was his body’s natural reaction to his brain being starved of oxygen and was the precursor to the heart attack that he suffered shortly after.

Both Shemwell and Alesbrook were arrested in connection with Elijah’s death – with Alesbrook eventually being charged with the murder of Elijah and Shemwell charged with cruelty to a person under 16 – between 31 December 2021 and 1 January 2022, and cruelty to a person under 16 – on 2 January 2022.

Alesbrook, now 19, pleaded not guilty but following a month-long trial at Derby Crown Court he was found guilty of Elijah’s murder.

India Shemwell, 24, of Rose Hill Street, Derby, pleaded guilty to both cruelty charges.

Today (15 November), at the same court, the Alesbrook was handed an indefinite sentence and must serve a minimum of 14 years – less the time he has already spent in prison on remand - before he can be considered for parole.

While Shemwell was jailed for three years.

DCI Greg McGill, who led the investigation into Elijah’s death, said: “Carl Alesbrook was 16 years old at the time of Elijah’s death.

“While a child himself, even a teenager knows the fatal risks posed by shaking a four-month-old baby boy.

“But this was no single incident and the court heard how on more than one occasion Alesbrook assaulted Elijah.

“The force used to squeeze his tiny body broke his ribs – while the shaking caused such significant damage that his brain become starved of oxygen leading to his death.

“Alesbrook has never been able to bring himself to admit his guilt, even in the face of such a mountain of evidence.

“He tried to hoodwink the jury by spinning a story that sought to cover up his guilt - but they saw through his lies and half-truths, and I am grateful for their careful consideration that has ultimately found him guilty.

“While we may never know the motive for Elijah’s murder – what we now know is who is responsible – and that person is Carl Alesbrook.

“There is another person involved in the circumstances that led to Elijah’s death. She is someone that Elijah should have been able to trust without question – his mother India Shemwell.

“The evidence we uncovered during our investigation showed a young woman who was more concerned with her sexual relationships and drug taking, than she was making sure her baby was safe.

“She left Elijah in the hands of a someone she barely knew – but even with her limited knowledge it should have been absolutely clear that Alesbrook was plainly unfit through both his age and habitual drug use to look after her boy.

“While India was quite simply an appalling mother, she could never have foreseen the brutal actions of Alesbrook. However, it is quite clear that she could and should have taken far better care of Elijah and she will have to live with the consequences of both her action and inaction for the rest of her life.

“I would like to finish by remembering the most important person in this case – and that is Elijah.

“He was at the heart of this investigation, and it was for him that we sought justice.

“Today, we have done that.”