SOUTHEND-ON-SEA BABY NEGLECT CASE: ALEKSANDRS VITTE AND OLGA KARNOPELE'S HORRIFIC CRUELTY

In a deeply disturbing case that has shocked the community of Southend-on-Sea, a young couple faced serious allegations of neglecting their infant child to the point of near-fatality. The court proceedings revealed that the baby, whose weight had plummeted to a dangerously low level, was perilously close to death due to the neglectful actions of his parents.

According to court reports, the infant suffered such extreme weight loss that his bones became visibly prominent, a clear sign of severe malnutrition. The child was only a few weeks away from succumbing to his condition when medical professionals intervened. The child's father, Aleksandrs Vitte, aged 22 and originally from Latvia, was present during the initial stages of the case but fled to his homeland during the court proceedings after being charged. His partner, Olga Karnopele, also aged 22, was present in court and later pleaded guilty to charges of neglect.

The court heard that the couple had initially taken the baby to hospital but then discharged him against medical advice, promising to provide supplementary feeding. Despite their assurances, they failed to follow through, and the child's health continued to deteriorate. Medical staff documented that the baby had lost approximately 250 grams within a single week, and photographs presented in court showed a child emaciated, distressed, and in obvious pain. His condition was described as being in a state of starvation, with his bones clearly visible through his skin.

Judge James Adkin condemned the parents' actions, emphasizing the severity of their cruelty. He stated, “This case concerns serious cruelty to a newborn child. Records reveal he lost 250g in a week, his condition was evidenced by photographs. He was emaciated, in distress and he was quite literally starving. A police protection order was immediately sought by doctors.”

The judge further criticized the parents for ignoring medical advice. Despite being told that the baby’s breastfeeding needed to be supplemented with formula, they stubbornly refused, believing they knew better. The court was told that they deliberately ignored the fact that the child was not thriving, and had the consultant not intervened, the baby might have died. The couple’s failure to adhere to medical guidance and their removal of the child from hospital while he was critically ill were described as reckless and negligent.

Olga Karnopele, who admitted to neglect, made disturbing comments about formula milk, referring to it as “poisonous” after health visitors expressed concerns about the baby's weight. It was also noted that she had no sterilizing equipment at home, raising further questions about the child's care. The infant was born weighing 6 pounds but had lost nearly a quarter of his birth weight within a month of his arrival in November.

During the court proceedings, Karnopele sat with a Russian interpreter as prosecutor Richard Archer detailed the child's condition. He explained that the baby, initially within the normal weight range at birth, had dropped below 4.98 pounds by December 30, losing more than 20 percent of his original weight. The photographs shown in court depicted a frail, jaundiced child with visible bones around his chest, and signs of hunger and lethargy. Medical assessments confirmed that the weight loss was due to inadequate feeding, and once admitted to hospital, the child's weight increased rapidly with proper formula feeding.

Despite being hospitalized and receiving appropriate care, the parents took the baby from the hospital ward against medical advice. They had agreed to supplement his feeds but made no effort to bottle-feed him properly. By December 30, a midwife found the child to be “pale and scraggy,” prompting his transfer to hospital via ambulance. However, the parents refused to allow him to stay, leading to his removal into care. The court heard that the child's condition was so serious that his parents' refusal to seek further treatment was considered neglectful and dangerous.

Olga Karnopele was visibly upset in the courtroom, crying as her defense lawyer, James Heyworth, described their conduct as “inexplicable stubbornness.” The lawyer expressed a somber reflection, stating, “There is a degree of human tragedy for whatever the reason for their conduct, 10 years from now they may go on to regret the fact that not only did they fail him, they will never know him and the little boy will never know them. They will have to go through life wondering why they did not do right by him.”

The case has left a lasting impact on the community of Southend-on-Sea, highlighting the devastating consequences of neglect and the importance of adhering to medical advice when caring for vulnerable infants.