Teenager in court charged with murdering ex-partner’s four-month-old boy

A teenager has appeared in court charged with murdering a four-month-old boy when he was 16.

Carl Alesbrook, now 18, is also alleged to have attacked and wounded Elijah Shemwell on New Year’s Day last year.

Alesbrook, dressed in a blue hooded tracksuit, spoke only to give his name and address to Derby Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

Elijah died in hospital on January 5 2022, three days after officers were called to an address in Acorn Drive, Belper, to a report a young baby was in cardiac arrest, Derbyshire Police said.

Alesbrook was not required to enter a plea to a charge of murder and two of causing grievous bodily harm to Elijah between November 18 2021 and January 2 2022.

Elijah’s mother, India Shemwell, 22, of Rose Hill Street, Derby, has been charged with cruelty to a person under 16 and is due to appear in court in October.

Shemwell was in a relationship with Alesbrook at the time of Elijah’s death, police have said.

Alesbrook, of Upper Greenhill Gardens, Matlock, was remanded in custody to appear at Derby Crown Court on Thursday.

During a two-minute hearing, District Judge Andrew Meachin told Alesbrook to take his hands out of his pockets.

He then told him: “The allegation faced is indictable-only and does have to be sent to the Crown Court in a very short period of time.”