Father Charged with Daughter’s Murder After Newborn Shaking Left Her Disabled
Terrifying Injury in North London Home
A man has been charged with murdering his six-year-old daughter after shaking her violently as a newborn, leaving her with severe disabilities and constant pain, a court heard.
The Old Bailey trial revealed that baby Primrose, just three weeks old in November 2014, suffered a catastrophic brain injury at home in North London. She lived with her father, Kyle Kitchen, 38, and mother, Kenzey Kane, 31.
Violent Home Life and Shocking Injuries
Jurors heard the couple’s relationship was volatile. During a domestic row, Kitchen allegedly slapped Kane repeatedly while she was holding their crying baby. Kane later called 111, distressed that Primrose had gone floppy and unresponsive after making strange sounds in the night.
Kitchen Googled “baby won’t wake up” before calling emergency services. Paramedics rushed Primrose to the Royal Free Hospital where scans showed a skull fracture and severe brain injury.
“It’s not like we knocked her or anything,” Kane told doctors, offering no explanation for the infant’s injuries.
Previous Convictions and Sentences
In 2015, Kitchen was convicted at Blackfriars Crown Court of two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent for the skull fracture and shaking injuries. He was sentenced to 18 years, later reduced to 15 on appeal.
Kitchen served half his sentence before being automatically released. He was then re-arrested and charged with murder. Kane was jailed for three and a half years for child cruelty.
The Devastating Impact on Primrose’s Life
Primrose’s injuries caused cerebral palsy, severe feeding difficulties, inability to speak, and drug-resistant epilepsy. By 2016, a do-not-resuscitate order was put in place due to the severity of her condition.
She attended a special school in Plumstead, South-East London, where her headteacher described her as “characterful.”
Primrose’s Tragic Death and Murder Trial
On May 16, 2021, Primrose was found unresponsive by her maternal grandmother, Maria Kane, who was sleeping next to her. Paramedics could not revive her, and she was pronounced dead at 5:23 a.m.
The post-mortem confirmed her death was caused directly by the traumatic brain injury from infancy.
Now, Kitchen faces murder charges. Prosecutor Jennifer Knight KC told the jury,
“Kyle Kitchen’s convictions prove that he is guilty, not merely of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, but of murder.”
Kitchen denies murder. The trial continues at the Old Bailey.
