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Newent baby death: Melissa Wilband and Jack Wheeler appear in court

BBC Jack Wheeler and Melissa Wilband arriving at courtBBC
Jack Wheeler and Melissa Wilband have been charged with manslaughter and causing or allowing the death of a child

A mother has appeared in court charged with the manslaughter of her four-month-old baby.

Melissa Wilband, 27, from Newent, Forest of Dean, and Jack Wheeler, 30, from Ledbury in Herefordshire, are accused of unlawfully killing Lexi Wilband.

The child had been admitted to hospital in April 2020 but died six days later.

The pair appeared at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court earlier and were released on conditional bail.

They will next appear at Bristol Crown Court on 19 February where it is expected that they will enter pleas to the charges.

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