Police have charged a 23-year-old woman with the murder of an 18-month-old boy who fell to his death from a sixth-floor window in Bradford.
West Yorkshire Police have charged Gemma Procter with the murder of Elliot Procter.
Officers were called to the Newcastle House flats in Bradford at about 5.10pm on Saturday afternoon following a report that a child had suffered life-threatening injuries. It quickly became clear the 18-month-old boy had died, West Yorkshire Police said.
Horrified residents spoke of the shocking moment they saw the baby fall to his death.
The 23-year-old charged on suspicion of murder has been named as Gemma Procter
Officers were called to the Newcastle House flats in Bradford at about 5.10pm on Saturday afternoon following a report that a child had suffered life-threatening injuries
A police officer on a balcony at Newcastle House in Bradford, where an 18-month-old baby died following a fall from a sixth-floor window
Witness Danuta Tomaszewicz, 59, said the little boy was naked when her husband and a friend went to help.
She had been on her phone, looking out of the window from the first floor flat that they are decorating when she suddenly noticed the child on the ground below.
Mrs Tomaszewicz, who is Polish, at first thought it was a doll.
Her niece Monika Tomaszewicz said: ‘She realised it was a real baby when she saw he was trying to catch his breath and his belly was moving.
A woman arrested on suspicion of the murder of a baby who fell from the sixth floor of a block of flats has been named locally as 23-year-old Gemma Procter
An officer leaves Newcastle House, in Bradford, when a baby died following a fall
‘She screamed for help and her husband and his friend ran downstairs. The friend took his shirt off because the baby was naked.’
Another helper rang 999 and an ambulance arrived after around 20 minutes, the niece said.
As they waited the men tried to comfort the boy, holding his head and talking to him.
The witness wept as her niece said: ‘She could not sleep at all last night. She doesn’t know how she is going to live here as every time she looks out of the window she will see the baby.
‘They tried their best for the baby.’
Gemma Procter has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of the baby
Another resident said: ‘I can’t believe what has happened.
‘I knew the family and they had two young children that I saw in prams a few times.
‘I saw police escorting people from the building last night but I had no idea what had happened.
‘I think the family who lived in the flat had been there for around a year.
Newcastle House, which has shops on the ground floor and seven stories of flats above, stands above Bradford city centre
‘They were in their early twenties and her boyfriend had been round to my flat a few times just asking for milk or usual things.
‘I can’t believe it.’
Another resident added: ‘I don’t know them personally but there is a woman and her boyfriend who live at the flat with two young children.
‘It is such a shock to hear about and I only heard it this morning…I can’t believe it.’
Newcastle House, which has shops on the ground floor and seven stories of flats above, stands above Bradford city centre. Entry to the building is controlled by intercom.
Officers have arrested a 23-year-old woman on suspicion of murder in connection with the incident and she remains in police custody
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