A woman will stand trial today accused of the murder of her three-year-old daughter eight years ago.
Lesley Dunford, 33, is accused of killing Lucy Dunford at their former family home in Camber, near Rye, East Sussex, on February 2 2004.
Dunford was arrested at her home in Devon last year and taken to Brighton where she was charged by Sussex Police detectives.
The charge followed an inquiry by the force's major crime branch after East Sussex coroner Alan Craze halted an inquest into Lucy's death in January 2009 to enable police to investigate the background to her death.
Three post-mortem examinations were conducted on the youngster and they found she died from asphyxia caused by the forced blockage of her airways.
In September last year, Dunford, from Devon, pleaded not guilty to murder during a plea and case management hearing.
She will stand trial at Lewes Crown Court from 10.30am. Dunford, of Rydal Mews, Windermere Close, Exeter, is on conditional bail
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article