Man denies murdering five-week-old baby

A man has appeared in court to deny murdering a five-week-old baby.

Sean Jefferson, 34, entered not guilty pleas to eight alleged offences in a brief hearing in front of Judge Kristina Montgomery KC at Stafford Crown Court.

Appearing in the dock wearing jeans and a grey zipped Adidas top, Jefferson, from Birch Court, Walsall, West Midlands, denied the murder and manslaughter of Darcy-Leigh Jefferson on March 29 2022.

Jefferson also denied causing or allowing a child to die, two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent, two counts of causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical harm and cruelty to a person under the age of 16.

All of the alleged offences are said to have happened between February 20 and March 27 2022.

Amy Leigh Clark, 33, from Enots Close in Lichfield, Staffordshire, appeared at the same hearing via video link from HMP Foston Hall, but was not asked to enter any pleas to the charges she faces as the camera was too blurry for her to be seen.

She will instead appear at Stafford Crown Court in person on September 25 where she will be arraigned.

Prosecutor Harpreet Sandhu KC said the pair are expected to face a trial lasting six to eight weeks from January 12 2026.