A couple has been convicted of the'savage and horrific' Christmas Day murder of their baby son.

 

A cannabis-smoking mother and father from England were convicted of their baby son's "savage and brutal" Christmas Day murder, after burning and beating him "in repeated acts of severe violence" in the days before his death. 

Stephen Boden (30) and Shannon Marsden (22) were convicted on Friday after a five-week trial at Derby Crown Court, after Finley Boden's death in the winter 2020 Covid lockdown - 39 days after he was returned to their care. 

Prosecutor Mary Prior described Finley, a 10-month-old boy, as having endured a slew of "appalling" injuries, including 71 bruises and 57 fractures, many of which occurred in the hours before his fatal collapse. 

Finley, a 10-month-old boy, suffered a plethora of "appalling" injuries, including 71 bruises and 57 fractures, many of which occurred in the hours before his fatal collapse, according to prosecutor Mary Prior. 

Finley's pelvis had been broken in two places, likely as a result of prolonged "kicking or stamping," and he had two burns on his left hand, one from a "hot, flat surface" and the other from a "cigarette lighter flame." 

He died from a heart arrest at the family's "cluttered" and filthy terraced property in Holland Road, Old Whittington, Chesterfield, Derbyshire - feces were later discovered in the bedroom. 

Finley was transported to the hospital by paramedics at 2.33 a.m. on Christmas Day, but despite their best efforts, he was pronounced dead at 3.45 a.m. 

Later, on January 11, 2021, when viewing Finley's remains in a hospital chapel of rest, Marsden would say, "His father's battered him to death." I didn't shield him." 

Boden said the household dog "jumped on" his son, breaking his ribs, while a tear in Finley's mouth, possibly caused by a dummy being forced in, was attributed to the toddler smacking himself with a rattle. 

He also texted two days before the toddler died, "I want to bounce him (Finley) off the walls." 

Finley was returned to the couple's care over the course of eight weeks, according to jurors, despite social workers' requests for a longer transition. 

A six-month transition period was recommended in a report by the family's social worker, which was three times longer than the eight-week timeframe mandated at a court hearing about the child's care in October 2020. 

Finley was removed from his parents' custody immediately after his birth in February 2020 due to child protection issues.

Boden, of Romford Way in Barrow Hill, Chesterfield, England, and Marsden, of no fixed address, had both denied murder, two counts of child maltreatment, and two counts of causing or permitting a child's death. 

The couple, who remained silent as the verdicts were read out, will be sentenced at a later date. 

By Covenant