Two parents from St Helens are set to face a jury next year after entering not guilty pleas to charges concerning the death of their one-year-old son, Maero Johnson.
Adam Johnson, 26, and Kylie Smith, 25, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday morning. The pair, who stood side-by-side in the dock throughout the 25-minute hearing, are accused of causing or allowing the death of their young son in August 2023.
According to charges brought by Merseyside Police, the parents allegedly failed to take reasonable steps to protect Maero from a “significant risk of serious physical harm” by a member of their household between June 5 and August 24, 2023. A postmortem examination previously confirmed that the child passed away due to severe malnutrition and ketotic hypoglycaemia.
In addition to the primary charge of causing or allowing the death of a child, both defendants face two counts of cruelty to a person under the age of 16. Adam Johnson also entered a guilty plea to a separate charge of possession of cannabis.
Prosecutor Owen Edwards KC confirmed that a four-to-six-week trial has been scheduled to begin on April 19 next year. Presiding Judge Brian Cummings KC addressed the defendants directly, stating, “Adam Johnson, you have pleaded guilty to one of the charges, the drugs charge, but otherwise you have both pleaded not guilty to the indictment. There will be a joint trial on April 19.”
He further urged the pair to maintain close communication with their legal representatives during the months leading up to the proceedings. “It may seem a long way away, but you may find it comes around sooner than you think. There is a lot of preparation before the trial so please cooperate fully with your legal team,” the judge added.
The court heard that the defendants, of Hempstead Close and Holly Bank respectively, have been released on unconditional bail. They are required to return for a pre-trial review hearing scheduled for April 5.
The investigation began following the tragic events of August 23, 2023, when emergency services were called to a report that one-year-old Maero had been rushed to the hospital. Despite the intervention of medical staff, the infant could not be saved.
The charge of causing or allowing the death of a child is a serious offense that, under current sentencing guidelines, carries a potential maximum penalty of life imprisonment. During the court appearance, Johnson and Smith remained largely composed, with Johnson occasionally nodding or touching his face as the trial date was set. Neither defendant spoke during the proceedings other than to formally enter their pleas.
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