Star Hobson was only 16 months old when she was killed at her home in Keighley, West Yorkshire. Here are some of the key events in her short life:
2019
May 21 – Star Hobson is born
November – Savannah Brockhill and Frankie Smith begin a relationship.
2020
January 23 – Smith’s friend Holly Jones makes the first contact with social services over concerns about domestic violence and how much time she is left looking after Star. Police and social workers visit Star but no concerns are raised.
Early February – Star goes to live with her great-grandparents, David Fawcett and Anita Smith at their home in Baildon, Bradford, after Smith says she has split up with Brockhill.
April 26 – Star is removed from Anita Smith’s house by her mother and taken to live with Smith and Brockhill in Keighley.
May 4 – Anita Smith contacts social services after she is told about Brockhill “slam-choking” Star.
June – David Fawcett posts a picture of Star with bruises on Facebook alongside a happier shot and with the caption “From this to this in five weeks, what’s going on Frankie?”
June 21 – Star’s father, Jordan Hobson, contacts social services. Police take Star for a hospital examination. Smith says her daughter had hit her face on a coffee table.
June 23 – Another friend of the Smith family contacts social services with concerns.
August 14 – David Fawcett and Anita Smith see Frankie and Star for the last time.
West Yorkshire Police
August 28 – David Fawcett is sent a video of Star with bruises and confronts Brockhill.
September 2 – Another of Star’s great-grandfathers, Frank Smith, contacts social services after seeing video of bruises on the youngster’s face. Social workers make an unannounced visit.
September 15 – Social services closes the case after concluding the referral to be malicious.
September 22 – Star is seriously injured at the flat in Wesley Place, Keighley, and dies later in hospital.
2021
December 14 – Following a trial at Bradford Crown Court Brockhill is convicted of Star’s murder while Smith is convicted of causing or allowing the toddler’s death.
