Almost 50 years ago 19-month-old Paul Booth died at his home in Haverton Hill in 1968.
David Dearlove, the child’s stepfather is now on trial for his murder, 50 years later. The case was closed until 2015 when Paul’s brother Peter spoke to police after a Facebook post triggered his memories of that awful time in his life.
Baby Paul Booth, Courtesy of Cleveland Police
A picture taken of Paul and David taken in 1968 appeared in Peter Booth’s Facebook feed in 2015. “Dearlove’s son David posted an image of his dad with Paul and I got angry. I did not want it on there because of what he had done to Paul and what he had done to me,” Peter told the Teesside Crown Court as he took the witness stand this past week.
The picture in question. Courtesy of Cleveland Police
Peter claims to have witnessed his brother’s brutal murder through a crack in the door when he was four years old. According to a BBC report, prosecutor Richard Wright said, “The police interviewed Peter as a witness for the very first time in 2015. He had not been asked to give any account in 1968. What he said in that interview is what has led us here, 50 years on, to the trial of David Dearlove for the murder of his stepson Paul Booth.”
The toddler died as a result of a severe injury to his brain caused by a fractured skull. At the time Dearlove claimed that the boy fell out of bed and hit his head. The now 71-year-old denies killing Paul Booth who died in hospital from his injuries in October 1968.
Mr Wright told the court, “There was and is no doubt as to what medical condition caused the death of Paul Booth. He died because of a severe injury to his brain that had itself been caused by a fractured skull. The real issue then in 1968 as now nearly 50 years later in 2017 is what caused that injury?”
At the time in question, Dearlove lived with his girlfriend Carol Booth, who has since died, along with her three children. During the trial, in which Dearlove is accused of murder and unlawful killing, along with three other charges of child cruelty, it was alleged that he was physically abusive with all three kids.
Booth family home. Picture from Cleveland Police
Both surviving children, Stephanie and Peter told the court that Dearlove has physically abused them also. Stephanie said she was pulled down the stairs by her ankles when she was three years old and told the court “When I was stood up he punched me full force in the stomach.”
Peter said that Dearlove would punch and kick him and he alleges he attacked him in the bathtub. “He would keep me under the water until I was kicking. He would hide under the bed, then hold your ankles and pull you out so you banged your head,” he told the court.
According to Richard Wright “The postmortem found a large number of bruises of varying ages. They suggest he had been deliberately assaulted and physically mistreated over a period of time,” he told the court. Despite the evidence against him, Dearlove maintains the child died accidentally after a fall, and his bruises were sustained whilst playing.
Peter Booth is still haunted by his brother’s gruesome death. When asked by Dearlove’s lawyer if his memories may be “muddled” he said, “No. I remember what I’ve seen. All those things I’ve said in court today have been what I remember.”
The case is continuing.