Smash hit

The court heard that the mother, 27, had been taught at a boarding school where she gained GCSEs including English and IT. She had sought treatment for postnatal depression in the past. But, from the outset, she had appeared more devoted to her dogs, a German shepherd called Lady and a Staffordshire bull terrier called Lucky.

Sources involved in the case said that when officers went into the house they found dead mice and chicks lying around — food for a snake that the boyfriend kept in his bedroom. The man was also said to enjoy torturing animals and would skin frogs alive before breaking their legs.

Social workers tried to keep the family together, assuaged by the mother’s excuses. They were rehoused and allocated a social worker and health visitor. Yet the violence worsened, with A&E attendances for black eyes, swellings and bruises, “scalp rash” and “ear discharge”. One episode resulted in the mother’s rearrest.

Maria Ward, the case worker, said that she visited the house four days before Baby P’s death for a prearranged meeting. She found the boy in his pushchair, his bruises covered up with chocolate. “He had eaten a chocolate biscuit and there was chocolate over his face,” she told the court. “He had chocolate on his hands and face.” She said that she asked the mother to wipe his face before they went out and the mother started cleaning him. Miss Ward noted that the boy had an infected scalp, which was covered in white cream, and an ear infection.

But she added: “He appeared well. He smiled when I spoke to him.” The case worker said that she had been content to leave the boy with his mother because she appeared to be co-operative and properly supported.

Days later — and 48 hours before his death — Baby P was taken to St Ann’s Hospital amid further concerns for his wellbeing. During an examination by Dr Sabah Al-Zayyat, a paediatrician, his mother and her friend supported the child. Despite Baby P’s repeated cries of pain, the consultant missed both his broken back and ribs.

The next day his mother was called to the social services office. She was told by police that she would not be prosecuted after consideration by the Crown Prosecution Service.

On the very same evening, back at the family home, Baby P received a fatal blow to his mouth, knocking a tooth out. After 17 months of agony, the tiny child finally succumbed. The next day he was found dead in his cot.

The professionals

Sabah al-Zayyat

The consultant paediatrician was the last doctor to see Baby P alive, two days before his death. Failed to identify broken back and ribs, recording that the examination could not be completed because the baby was “miserable and cranky”. She said she thought that Baby P had a cold. Dr Al-Zayyat, from Ilford, Essex, trained in Saudi Arabia and moved to Ireland in 1997 to study a master’s degree. Worked as a locum consultant paediatrician between 2002 and 2006 before moving to Great Ormond Street trust, based at St Ann’s Hospital. She has been banned from working unsupervised with children until the inquiry is complete and may face a GMC hearing

Maria Ward

Appointed as the allocated social worker for Baby P on February 2, 2007, making her first visit to the child 20 days later. Baby P’s mother reassured her that she was “back on track” and insisted that the child should not be on the at-risk register. When Ms Ward spotted bruising on the child’s face the mother told her that he had squabbled with an older child. Four days before Baby P died Ms Ward, above, found the child sitting in his pushchair with chocolate all over his face and hands. The Old Bailey heard that the chocolate was to cover up the bruises. Ms Ward said she had been content to leave the boy with his mother because she appeared to be co-operative and properly supported. She is believed still to work at Haringey Council

Sharon Shoesmith

Director of Haringey’s Children and Young People’s Service since April 2005 after two years as the director of education. She was previously one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors, inspecting both schools and education authorities. She has refused to apologise or resign over Baby P’s death, instead blaming legal advice received a week before the baby’s death for him not being taken into care. Ms Shoesmith, below, chaired the Serious Case Review. She claims that her role was as a “facilitator” and the report was independent

Paulette Thomas

Health visitor who saw the boy only four times in six months because the mother cancelled four appointments with her. She completed a one-year check and reported “no concerns”

Gilly Christou

A team manager at Haringey Social Services, she reported in March that the baby “appears to have a high pain threshold”. She said: “It is concerning he does not seem to react to danger or pain. Only his mother can stop him, he does not seem to stop himself”

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