Star Hobson: Jailed mother tells family her lover murdered her daughter out of jealousy | UK News

The mother of murdered toddler Star Hobson has told family members she believes her lover killed her daughter in a fit of rage because she said she would abandon her.

Frankie Smith she was jailed for causing or allowing the death of Star and her lover, Savannah Brockhill, was found guilty of murder.

The 16-month-old was seriously injured in September 2020.

In an interview with Sky News prior to the review of failed social serviceTwo of Star’s relatives described a toxic relationship that led to her death.

David Fawcett, Star’s great-grandfather, told Sky News: “This is just as horrible as I found out.”

Star’s mother “told Savannah it was over. I’m done,” he said.

“And that’s the day that Star died… And Frankie even said ‘she did it because I left her. And that’s the only way she could attack me’.”

Alicia Szepler, Smith’s sister, added that it was the case “if I can’t have you – you can’t have her”.

“She knew what she was doing. It wasn’t just a spur of the moment,” Ms. Szepler said.

‘We’re not allowed to see her’

Family do not forgive Smith for what happened.

The court found her to be a cruel and neglectful mother, but Brockhill was also controlling.

The jury decided Brockhill carried out the fatal blows, but Smith at least contributed to the complicity in the months of abuse.

Mr Fawcett considers Brockhill a bad influence who has isolated Smith and Star.

He said: “She can’t stand Frankie talking to people and she doesn’t like the fact that Star is happy with us. She’s saying – she’s our star – our baby.”

Ms. Szepler said: “We weren’t allowed to see her on her birthday. Her only birthday that we would have had with her, and we weren’t allowed to see her.”

Read more:
‘We call her a monster’ – Family no longer names toddler killer

The family celebrated Star’s birthday this year.

On May 14, two beautiful castles were placed in Roberts Park near Bradford. Balloons are released and songs are played under a perfect blue sky.

The gathering looks like any family celebrating in the sun, but the photo on the table, recognizable from the news, tells a different story.

They sang happy birthday to a child who couldn’t be there.

Fawcett strummed his guitar just like he did during his brief time with Star, and she would shake her head in amusement.

For a few precious weeks in early 2020, Mr. Fawcett was her guardian along with Anita’s great-grandmother.

While trying to focus on the joy the toddler brings, they can’t get rid of the pain.

“I wake up in the morning, the first thing that comes to mind is the Star,” Mr. Fawcett said.

“I don’t think we’ll get through it. Anita cries every day. She says ‘I won’t talk until they bring Star back.'”

Ms Szepler said: “There are no words for how much it has ruined our whole family.

“It’s not like we just lost Star, we also lost Frankie and our family is just a mess.”

Mr Fawcett and Mr Szepler were among five people who reported the pair to social services after seeing pictures of Star with bruises.

Mr Fawcett said: “When the social worker came to the house, even though it was Frankie’s child [Brockhill] immediately picked up Star, put her on his knees, and like immediately she was in charge [as if to say] ‘I’m in complete control, there’s nothing wrong with this child’ and she has apparently given up social services.

“We couldn’t understand why they didn’t bring Frankie and Star into the kitchen and talk to them privately.”

Ms Szepler added: “Social services should think ‘why can’t they see a larger family.

“I know social workers have a lot of cases, and it’s tough, but the social workers I’ve dealt with doing with Star, it just doesn’t seem to me like they really mind.”

Bradford Council said it was awaiting review before responding.

Mr. Fawcett and Mrs. Szepler are both obsessed with what they can do – but it’s also a question of social care for children.