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Man found guilty of killing baby | Man found guilty of killing baby |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A man has been convicted of abducting and killing a six-month-old boy in the West Midlands and dumping his body. | A man has been convicted of abducting and killing a six-month-old boy in the West Midlands and dumping his body. |
Sherwain McCoy Smith, 21, of no fixed address, was cleared of murdering Troy Simpson, but was found guilty of his manslaughter at Birmingham Crown Court. | |
The child's body was found by police inside a plastic bag in a culvert near a brook, a day after he was reported missing in Smethwick last February. | The child's body was found by police inside a plastic bag in a culvert near a brook, a day after he was reported missing in Smethwick last February. |
Smith was remanded in custody to be sentenced in London after Easter. | |
The defendant - the boyfriend of Troy's mother - had denied any involvement, claiming he had not left his flat on the night Troy disappeared. | The defendant - the boyfriend of Troy's mother - had denied any involvement, claiming he had not left his flat on the night Troy disappeared. |
Psychotic episodes | |
Forensic evidence suggested Smith had dumped the baby's body, although medical experts were not able to show how Troy had died. | Forensic evidence suggested Smith had dumped the baby's body, although medical experts were not able to show how Troy had died. |
A DNA profile obtained from the roll the bin liner was believed to have come from matched that of Smith. | A DNA profile obtained from the roll the bin liner was believed to have come from matched that of Smith. |
Traces of pollen and soil from the brook also matched those found on his clothes and trainers. | Traces of pollen and soil from the brook also matched those found on his clothes and trainers. |
Mr Justice Gibbs ordered that a supplementary psychiatric report should be prepared on Smith after expressing concern that the killer had experienced psychotic episodes in the months leading up to Troy's death. | |
Speaking outside court, Troy's relatives welcomed the guilty verdict. | |
A statement read: "My family have been devastated by the death of baby Troy. | |
"He was a beautiful baby and he brought so much joy to our family. | |
"This verdict can never bring Troy back but we are grateful that justice has been done." |