Ex-fitness instructor who brutally murdered adopted daughter jailed for 18 years

Jailed: Matthew Scully-Hicks
PA
Fiona Simpson7 November 2017
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A former fitness instructor who murdered his daughter two weeks after formally adopting her "showed no emotion" as he was jailed for a minimum of 18 years.

Matthew Scully-Hicks, 31, was sentenced to life behind bars for violently shaking 18-month-old Elsie Scully-Hicks and striking her head at their home in Llandaff, Cardiff, in May 2016.

He described the toddler as "a psycho", "the exorcist" and "Satan dressed up in a Baby grow" in text messages to friends and family members.

Cardiff Crown Court heard he struggled to cope with being the primary carer for Elsie as his husband, Craig Scully-Hicks, 36, worked full-time.

Scully-Hicks denied murder but a jury unanimously convicted him of the charge on Monday following a four-week trial.

Victim: Elsie Scully-Hicks
PA

Elsie suffered multiple injuries including fractured ribs caused by Scully-Hicks squeezing the child with his fingers on her back, Judge Mrs Justice Davies said.

She had a fractured skull “caused by impact with a hard surface” when she collapsed and died on May 29.

The judge said Elsie's fatal injuries were inflicted between meal time and bed time - a time when Elsie was known to cry.

She referred to text messages the defendant had sent describing Elsie's meal times and bed time as "your worst nightmare".

"In more than one text you describe Elsie as having a 'diva strop', you refer to Elsie in strong and derogatory language," the judge said.

"It was Elsie's behaviour, your frustration with it which turned to anger, which led you to inflict the serious injuries which swiftly led to her collapse," she added.

Scully-Hicks was also found to have injured the toddler’s legs in November 2015 and caused a bruise on her head a month later.

Scully-Hicks showed no emotion as he was told he would spend a minimum of 18 years in prison.

Passing sentence Mrs Justice Davies added: "In deliberately inflicting serious injuries upon your 18-month-old adoptive daughter you abused the trust which had been placed in you as Elsie's adoptive father. It was a gross abuse of that trust.

"It was an abuse of the responsibility which had been placed upon you as her adoptive father to protect and care for this young, vulnerable and defenceless child.

"Your actions in killing Elsie have devastated three families - the birth family of Elsie, the family you had sought to build with Craig Scully-Hicks and your own birth family.”

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