DANIEL ASHURST SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS FOR THE DEATH OF HIS DAUGHTER IN SHEVINGTON

In a tragic case that has shocked the community of Shevington, Daniel Ashurst, aged 33, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the manslaughter of his 14-month-old daughter, Hollie. The heartbreaking incident unfolded on February 28, 2019, when Ashurst arrived at a GP surgery in Standish clutching his unresponsive daughter, who showed no signs of consciousness.

According to reports, Ashurst initially claimed that Hollie had fallen down a few stairs and started crying. He stated that he placed her in the car to take her to the hospital, but on the way, she stopped breathing. As a result, he decided to go directly to the medical facility instead. Paramedics responded promptly to the scene at the surgery, and Hollie was transferred to a hospital for urgent assessment.

Medical professionals at the hospital quickly identified that Hollie was suffering from severe injuries and was in a life-threatening condition. During her time at the hospital, Ashurst provided multiple inconsistent accounts of what had happened to his daughter, raising suspicions among the medical staff and authorities. He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of causing section 18 wounding, and police detained him for questioning.

The following day, despite the efforts of medical teams, Hollie succumbed to her injuries. Her death marked a tragic end to a series of events that left the community devastated. An autopsy revealed that Hollie had sustained bruising to her head and neck, bleeding in her eyes, brain, and spinal cord, a fractured ankle, and possibly bite marks on her left hand and thigh. These findings indicated a pattern of severe and possibly inflicted injuries.

Following her death, Ashurst was further arrested on suspicion of murder. During police interviews, he chose to remain silent, answering ‘no comment’ to all questions. He was formally charged with Hollie’s murder but maintained a plea of not guilty. The case proceeded to a three-week trial, during which the jury deliberated extensively.

In a verdict that brought some measure of justice, the jury found Ashurst not guilty of murder but convicted him of manslaughter. Today, at Manchester Crown Court, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison for his role in Hollie’s death. As he was led away from the courtroom, he showed no reaction, but the public gallery erupted with cries of “monster” and “baby killer,” reflecting the community’s outrage and grief over the tragic loss of a young life in Shevington.