A nine-year-old girl has been accused of fatally beating her younger brother with a broomstick shortly after their aunt and legal guardian was arrested.

The young victim was allegedly beaten to death with a broomstick in the city of Mobile in Mobile County in the US state of Alabama on 3rd February.

Mobile Police Department said on 4th February: “On Thursday, February 3, 2022, at approximately 8:19 a.m., officers responded to the 1800 block of Jacob Drive in reference to a medical emergency involving a child. Upon arrival, officers located the four-year-old male child unresponsive inside the residence.

“Mobile Fire-Rescue responded and pronounced the victim deceased on the scene.

“During the investigation, detectives discovered the child suffered signs of child abuse. Based upon the investigation, Ms. Yolanda Coale, 53, was arrested for Aggravated Child Abuse.”

According to reports, the victim’s nine-year-old sister is also facing a criminal charge in connection with the boy’s death along with Coale, their aunt and legal guardian.

The police suspect the girl beat her brother with a broomstick.

Court documents said the aunt woke up to the sound of the girl beating her brother, and that there were also signs of “long-term abuse” on his body.

Mobile County assistant district attorney Louis Walker said: “She was the legal guardian of the child… During the course of the investigation, Mobile police found evidence of abuse for this child, and then he was found deceased.”

Coale, who has no previous criminal record except for an arrest in 2005 for giving alcohol to a child, is due to next appear in court on 9th February.

At present, she faces a charge of aggravated child abuse charge, but the prosecution said it could be upgraded.

The police said: “This is an active investigation. This investigation is ongoing. No additional details will be released at this time to protect the integrity of the investigation.”