Warning: this story contains distressing details
The pair, who lived in Burntwood, Staffordshire, at the time, also deny manslaughter, two counts of causing grievous bodily harm and two counts of causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical harm.
At the first day of the trial at Stafford Crown Court, Harpreet Sandhu KC, prosecuting, said Darcy-Leigh was born prematurely on 20 February 2022 and “was tiny”, weighing just over 4lb (1.8kg).
She was in the care of her parents and one or both were responsible for killing her, the jury was told at Friday’s hearing.
Sandhu said throughout the five weeks of her short life she was physically assaulted on a repeated basis.
She told the jury at least three incidents resulted in a total of 47 rib fractures, which were likely to have been caused when her chest was squeezed.
Both of her legs had been fractured too, she added, which was likely the result of her legs being pulled or twisted, or her body being shaken.