MURDER accused Frankie Smith today was accused of “changing her story to fit other people’s evidence” three weeks into the trial over her daughter’s death.

Smith, 20, of Wesley Place, Keighley, is jointly accused of murdering 16-month-old Star Hobson with her girlfriend Savannah Brockhill, 28, of Hawthorn Close, Keighley, on September 22, 2020.

They are both also charged with causing or allowing Star’s death, and deny all charges against them.

Today [Wednesday], under cross-examination by Brockhill’s defence counsel Kath Goddard QC, Smith was forced to deny changing her account “after hearing other people’s evidence”.

Ms Goddard produced Smith’s defence case statements, which set out what her defence will be.

The first was produced on August 26, and the second was filed on November 8, the thirteenth day of the trial.

In the first statement, signed by Smith, it said her case was she and Brockhill had arrived in the living room at the same time and found Star on the floor.

This was the version of events she told the doctor at the hospital and police in interviews, Smith confirmed.

Ms Goddard asked: “This statement shows you had lied and lied about what happened that day, does it?”

Smith said: “Yes.”

Turning to the second statement, submitted mid-trial, Smith said she heard a bang from the living room and “when she returned from the bathroom she saw Brockhill sat on the sofa with Star on her knee”; this was the version of events Smith told the jury while giving evidence.

Ms Goddard asked why she had signed the first statement, “knowing it was a lie”.

Smith said: “I didn’t even read over it, I just signed it.”

Ms Goddard asked Smith why she lied in her police interviews, she said Brockhill had told her to.

“She said there was armed police outside, and we were going to get arrested, and if they asked I had to say we both walked into the living room at the same time.”

Ms Goddard asked why she went along with this, after her baby daughter had just died.

Smith answered: “I don’t know, it was wrong to do it. My head was all over.”

Ms Goddard said Smith was “making this all up as you go along”, which Smith denied again.

The trial continues.