Two women deny manslaughter and child cruelty after death of two-year-old girl

Two women have appeared in court to deny manslaughter and child cruelty after the death of a two-year-old girl. Emma Lomax-Newton, 29, and Cindy Molyneux, 52, both pleaded not guilty to the charges during a hearing at Manchester Crown Court.

Maisie Lomax-Newton, from Atherton, Wigan, died at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital the age of two in December 2021. Ms Lomax-Newton and Ms Molyneux are both charged with her manslaughter, as well as child cruelty.

Their case was adjourned until a further hearing scheduled for next month. A trial has also been set for May next year.

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They were granted unconditional bail by Judge Nicholas Dean KC, the Honorary Recorder of Manchester, following a hearing on Thursday morning.

In court, prosecutors were represented by Rachel Shenton, while the defendants were represented by Rachel Cooper and Gwen Henshaw.

The pair first appeared before magistrates in Wigan in June last year, before the case was transferred to Manchester.