Parents killed baby with methodone - and they get bail!

Baby died after couple 'gave her heroin substitute methadone on repeated occasions'By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 2:33 PM on 11th June 2010
Comments (106) Add to My Stories A couple gave the heroin substitute methadone to a baby girl who died of suspected poisoning, a court heard.

Holly Agius, aged 14 months, died after being taken to hospital from her home in Broadwell, near Coleford, in Gloucestershire, in January last year.

Her mother Bonny Richards, 27, of Ledbury, Herefordshire, and her partner John Davies, 31, admitted two counts of cruelty towards the toddler.



Drug addict Bonny Richards, right, admitted cruelty to her 14-month-old daughter Holly Agius who died of suspected poisoning last year. A court heard Richards and her partner John Davies gave the baby methadone

One charge covered a six-month period between July 2008 and January last year.

Richard Smith QC, prosecuting, told Bristol Crown Court the pair gave Holly methadone on 'repeated occasions'.
Methadone is a synthetic drug used to wean addicts off heroin.
A separate charge of manslaughter, which they denied, was withdrawn by the prosecution and Mr Smith asked that the charge lie on file.

Richards and Davies were bailed by Mrs Justice Cox until sentencing next month.
Holly died at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital after being admitted on January 12.