"A DVD of children’s cartoon Peppa Pig has been played to an
Old Bailey jury in the last part of the evidence in a child murder
trial. The panel of eight women and four men sat for four minutes watching
snippets of the popular TV show, featuring a visit of the fire brigade, a
family dinner party, and a game of leap frog. Some of the jurors broke into smiles as the film, edited from a 63-minute DVD, was played in court eight. The cartoon has been played as evidence in the murder trial of Ben
Butler, a father accused of murdering his six-year-old daughter Ellie by
beating her around the head. Butler, 36, allegedly killed Ellie at his home in Sutton before
concocting a plan with partner Jennie Gray, also 36, to cover up the
murder. However, he claims the young girl may have suffered fatal injuries in
a fall, having been jumping up and down on her bed to Peppa Pig. Butler’s barrister, Icah Peart QC, outlined the theory while
cross-examining pathologist Professor Anthony Risdon last month, asking
him: “Have you heard of Peppa Pig?” Prof Risdon said he knew the character but had not seen any of the
cartoons: “I am a little old for that... my children are in their middle
ages now.' Mr Peart continued: “In particular I am interested in a nursery rhyme
that goes as follows: Five little Peppa Pigs jumping on the bed. One
jumped off and bumped her head. Mummy called the doctor and the doctor
said 'Don't let Peppa Pig jump on the bed'.” He said Ellie “was a Peppa Pig fan”, her bedroom was adorned with
images of the character, and she had the Peppa Pig DVD that was played
today in her room. “What I am talking about is someone jumping up and down on the bed
and, as Peppa Pig does, jumps over backwards, falls down and hits her
head on the concrete floor”, he said. “That's the kind of momentum I am talking about.” Butler is accused of murdering his daughter on October 28 2013, less than a year after she had been returned to his custody. The trial continues."
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/ben-butler-trial-dvd-of-peppa-pig-played-to-jury-after-fathers-claims-girl-died-watching-tv-show-a3266261.html