Murder-accused Thornton Heath mum told ‘don’t be afraid to push too hard’ in 111 call

Phylesia Shirley and her then-partner, Kemar Brown, allegedly repeatedly struck Kyrell Matthews over several weeks.

Harrowing secret audio recordings captured the violence said to have been meted out by the pair in Shirley’s one-bedroom flat in south London, the Old Bailey was told.

The toddler, who was non-verbal, had 41 rib fractures by the time he died on October 20 2019, as well as internal bleeding and a 1.6in (4cm) cut to his liver, jurors have heard.

Kyrell Matthews

The prosecution claim he suffered the injuries in at least five separate incidents in the four weeks leading up to his death.

But Brown’s defence say they were the result of incorrect advice from NHS 111 on how to resuscitate the little boy.

On Thursday, jurors were played the 111 call in which Shirley told a call handler that Kyrell was “acting really funny” and was “floppy” with his eyes rolled back.

An ambulance was dispatched and Shirley was told how to give emergency help to Kyrell.

The call was transferred to a clinical adviser, who instructed Shirley on giving two-handed chest compressions and breaths.

Shirley sobbed as she was told to “push down hard and fast”.

She was told “Do not be afraid to push hard” and “Go for it” before counting the compressions out loud.

As Shirley repeated the procedure, she was told again: “Don’t be afraid to push too hard.”

Kyrell appeared to make a noise and Shirley said: “He’s awake, his eyes just opened but he’s not looking at anything, he’s just staring.”

The sound of approaching ambulance sirens could be heard before the call cut out.

Shirley, 24, and Brown, 28, of separate addresses in Thornton Heath, deny murder.

Brown also denies two further charges – causing or allowing death, and causing or allowing serious physical harm to a child.

Shirley has admitted allowing the death and allowing serious physical harm to a child.