A three-year-old boy who died in hospital more than two weeks after being admitted with serious injuries has been named as Isiayah Henry from Woolwich, with two people now facing murder charges in connection with his death.
Isiayah was admitted to hospital on Saturday 3 January, prompting medical staff to raise concerns with police about the nature of his injuries. Officers launched a safeguarding and criminal investigation following initial enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the child’s admission.
Despite medical staff’s best efforts to treat him, Isiayah died on Monday 19 January. The Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Crime Command continued enquiries following his death, with investigators working to establish the full circumstances leading to the fatal injuries.
Tanisha Henry, 28, of St Marys Street, Woolwich, and Mikael Williams, 30, of Beaconsfield Road, SE17, were charged with murder and causing or allowing the death of a child on Friday 20 February following an appearance at Woolwich Crown Court.
The charges were brought more than a month after Isiayah’s death, with the Specialist Crime Command conducting ongoing enquiries throughout this period. Both accused face two charges each in connection with the three-year-old’s death.
Henry and Williams will next appear at Woolwich Crown Court on Wednesday 22 April for further proceedings. The court appearance scheduled in approximately two months will determine the next steps in the criminal case against the pair.
Isiayah’s family have been informed of all developments in the case and continue to receive support from specialist officers assigned to provide assistance throughout the investigation and court proceedings. The Metropolitan Police confirmed specialist support remains available to the family.
The investigation involved collaboration between hospital medical staff who initially raised concerns, safeguarding teams, and the Met’s Specialist Crime Command which handles complex and serious criminal cases. The timeline from hospital admission to charges spanned approximately seven weeks.
Police were first alerted to concerns on 3 January when medical professionals treating Isiayah identified issues with his injuries requiring law enforcement involvement. The safeguarding investigation ran alongside the criminal inquiry from the outset, reflecting the serious nature of concerns raised by hospital staff.
The 16-day period between Isiayah’s admission and death saw medical teams attempting to treat his serious injuries whilst police conducted initial enquiries. Following his death, the investigation intensified under the Specialist Crime Command’s direction.
The April court appearance will mark the next stage in legal proceedings against Henry and Williams, with both facing potential trial for the murder and causing or allowing the death of Isiayah. The court will determine procedural matters including trial dates and any additional pre-trial hearings required before the case proceeds.
