This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/west_midlands/6478577.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Man found guilty of killing baby | Man found guilty of killing baby |
| (10 minutes 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. | 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. | 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 | 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. | 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. | Speaking outside court, Troy's relatives welcomed the guilty verdict. |
| A statement read: "My family have been devastated by the death of baby Troy. | 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. | "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." | "This verdict can never bring Troy back but we are grateful that justice has been done." |
| Det Supt Keith Wilson, of West Midlands Police, said: "Thiswas a very tragic and traumatic case involving the death of a six-month-oldbaby. | |
| "The case was very difficult and very emotional for all the officers andpeople involved, including the community. | |
| "I am pleased that the ordeal is over for the family. Troy can never bereplaced but at least they can now start to rebuild their lives." |