Mother and man charged over death of four-month-old baby girl

Melissa Wilband and Jack Wheeler

Two people have been charged over the death of four-month-old baby girl in Gloucestershire.

Lexi Wilband died six days after being admitted to hospital during the first lockdown, in April 2020.

Now, her mother Melissa Wilband and a man, Jack Wheeler, have appeared in court jointly accused of manslaughter.

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The pair also face a charge of causing or allowing the death of a child.

At Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court this morning, 27-year-old Wilband, of Newent, and 30-year-old Wheeler, from Ledbury, spoke only to confirm their name, date of birth and address.

The case was sent to Bristol Crown Court, where they will appear on 19 February. At that hearing, they are likely to enter their pleas.

They were both released on bail with conditions not to have unsupervised contact with children under the age of 18.

They’re also banned from speaking to each other, or contacting named witnesses.

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