The two-year-old had been out with family members when tragedy struck
11:20, 03 Feb 2026Updated 11:36, 03 Feb 2026
The search for Xielo was high profile(Image: Leicester Mercury)
A police detective has said that Xielo Maruziva was a “significant distance” from his aunt and great-aunt when he fell into the River Soar and was swept away.
Speaking at the inquest into the toddler’s death, Detective Inspector Kevin Hames contradicted the evidence of Xielo’s aunt, Nicole Maruziva, who had said Xielo had been only “a few baby steps” ahead of her when tragedy struck in February 2024.
Giving evidence today (Tuesday, February 3) at City Hall in Leicester, DI Hames said the CCTV angle from Aylestone Meadows made it impossible to calculate the distance accurately.
But he said it was clear that after Xielo stepped into the overflowing river, it was between five and six seconds before his aunt Nicole, rushing to find him, reached the point where the two-year-old went into the water.
She jumped in but was unable to see the youngster in the muddy water and was struggling in the strong current.
During DI Hames’ evidence, coroner Catherine Mason had the detective stand up and walk for five seconds across the room, covering several metres.
Professor Mason asked: “Is that a greater distance than was given in court yesterday?” He replied that it was.
The coroner asked: “So therefore, are you now confident that the distance between where Xielo entered the water and where the aunts were when he did so was more than ‘a few baby steps’.”
He said he was. She asked if he considered it a “significant distance” and he replied: “On the balance of probabilities, yes ma’am.”
During the hearing, there was also discussion about why, despite the rapid response of Leicestershire Police, it took about an hour before Xielo’s mother, Kayela Smith, was informed that her only son was missing in the river.
Xielo’s mum Kayela Smith was only informed he went missing an hour after he entered the river
DI Hames said: “It would have been very chaotic and the priority would have been to find Xielo and save his life.”
The jury in the inquest has previously heard that Xielo was out for a walk with his aunt Nicole and his great-aunt, Memory, on the evening of Sunday, February 18, 2024.
At about 5pm, the youngster was walking ahead of the two women as they were crossing the historic Packhorse Bridge in Aylestone Meadows, which has a low stone wall on either side.
Xielo had just passed the end point of the bridge and turned to the side, stepping into the water.
Nicole told the inquest at Leicester’s City Hall yesterday (Monday, February 2): “Xielo was a bit ahead of us and I could see him turn.
“I saw Xielo from the side and he took a step and he wasn’t there any more.
“I ran. I looked down and I jumped into the water. I couldn’t see him because the water was so muddy.
“I was using my arms to find him. It was deep water, up to my chest.
“I didn’t feel anything but the water.”
Searches were carried out in the weeks following the tragedy but failed to locate Xielo and the youngster’s body was only found almost four months later.
The inquest continues.