SHAUN BIRCHALL LEEDS MAN WHO ATTACKED PREGNANT WOMAN AND CAUSED STILLBIRTH
In April 2021, a tragic incident unfolded in Leeds that left a mother mourning the loss of her unborn child after a violent assault by her partner.Amie Upton, a 34-year-old woman from Leeds, was subjected to a brutal attack by her then-partner, Shaun Birchall, aged 28, which ultimately resulted in the stillbirth of her baby girl, Florrie.
At the time of the assault, Amie was 17 weeks and three days pregnant.
The attack was particularly vicious; Birchall repeatedly rammed a child's pushchair into her, causing her abdomen to collide with the open door of a freezer.
The violence was so severe that it ruptured her amniotic sac, a critical membrane that surrounds and protects the fetus.
The injury inflicted by Birchall's actions had devastating consequences, and 12 weeks later, Florrie was stillborn at 29 weeks and three days of gestation.
Amie Upton has spoken out about the incident, expressing her belief that the attack directly contributed to her baby's death.
She stated, “I’m sure the attack on me caused the death of Florrie too.
But when the assault took place, Florrie was not classed as a person in the eyes of the law.” Her grief has fueled her efforts to seek legal reform.
Amie has initiated a petition advocating for what she calls “Florrie’s Law,” which aims to amend legislation concerning the legal status of fetuses beyond 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Her goal is to influence changes in how courts perceive and treat pregnancies past this gestational age, especially in cases involving violence.
During the sentencing hearing at Leeds Crown Court, Judge Rodney Jameson QC detailed the circumstances of the attack.
He explained that Birchall, during a heated argument in the kitchen, became “extremely angry” and deliberately pushed the pushchair into Amie’s legs and lower back multiple times.
On more than one occasion, he knocked her forward, causing her abdomen to come into contact with the corner of an open freezer door.
The judge noted that at the time, Amie was 17 weeks pregnant, and the impact of the assault caused her amniotic sac to rupture.
Judge Jameson acknowledged the complexity of determining the precise impact of the rupture on the pregnancy.
He stated, “It is beyond doubt that the rupture of the amniotic sac would on any view have caused serious consequences to the pregnancy.
Whether it is in fact causative of death and, if so, to what degree are questions of very great complexity.” The judge emphasized that while Amie believes the attack contributed to her baby’s death, the medical evidence could not definitively establish this causation.
Nonetheless, he recognized the seriousness of the injury inflicted on Amie and the profound implications for her and her unborn child.
Birchall pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm (GBH) and was sentenced to two years in prison.
The court’s decision reflects the severity of the assault and its tragic consequences.
Amie Upton’s heartbreaking story has also sparked a broader conversation about fetal rights and the legal recognition of pregnancies beyond 24 weeks.
She has called for legislative change and has started a petition to raise awareness and push for reforms that could prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Members of the public can support her cause by signing the petition, which aims to bring about legal recognition and protection for fetuses in cases of violence or injury.
The case remains a stark reminder of the devastating impact domestic violence can have, not only on the victims but also on their unborn children.
