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| Lying pair jailed over baby death | Lying pair jailed over baby death |
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| A couple whose baby died of head injuries have been jailed for two-and-a-half years for perverting the course of justice. | A couple whose baby died of head injuries have been jailed for two-and-a-half years for perverting the course of justice. |
| Prosecutors said one of Ryan Boswell's parents must have killed him but police were unable to establish which one. | Prosecutors said one of Ryan Boswell's parents must have killed him but police were unable to establish which one. |
| He died just before a legal loophole - enabling them to say nothing or blame each other - was closed. | He died just before a legal loophole - enabling them to say nothing or blame each other - was closed. |
| Mold Crown Court heard that John Boswell, 22, and Emma Buck, 20, lied about their sons' death in 2005. | Mold Crown Court heard that John Boswell, 22, and Emma Buck, 20, lied about their sons' death in 2005. |
| During the couple's seven-day trial in May, the jury was told that Ryan's injuries were so severe that they could have been caused by a high speed road crash. | During the couple's seven-day trial in May, the jury was told that Ryan's injuries were so severe that they could have been caused by a high speed road crash. |
| Ryan was in his parents' care for just 18 days before he was returned to hospital on New Year's Day, 2005. | Ryan was in his parents' care for just 18 days before he was returned to hospital on New Year's Day, 2005. |
| As his parents you owed him the ultimate duty to care for him and protect him. You betrayed the trust he was entitled to Judge Merfyn Hughes | |
| No-one else was at the flat at the time, the prosecution said, and one or other of his parents must have been responsible. | No-one else was at the flat at the time, the prosecution said, and one or other of his parents must have been responsible. |
| But North Wales Police was unable to charge either parent over the child's death and instead charged both with perverting the course of justice for covering up what happened. | But North Wales Police was unable to charge either parent over the child's death and instead charged both with perverting the course of justice for covering up what happened. |
| Detectives said that if the offence had taken place months later, the pair could have been charged with the new offence of familial homicide. | Detectives said that if the offence had taken place months later, the pair could have been charged with the new offence of familial homicide. |
| In March 2005, legislation was passed closing a "loophole" which allowed those accused over the death of a child to remain silent or blame each other. | In March 2005, legislation was passed closing a "loophole" which allowed those accused over the death of a child to remain silent or blame each other. |
| Sentencing the couple on Wednesday, Judge Merfyn Hughes said both parents chose to lie and mislead the police and that it was "impossible" to say which one had caused Ryan's death. | Sentencing the couple on Wednesday, Judge Merfyn Hughes said both parents chose to lie and mislead the police and that it was "impossible" to say which one had caused Ryan's death. |
| "As his parents you owed him the ultimate duty to care for him and protect him. You betrayed the trust he was entitled to," he added. | "As his parents you owed him the ultimate duty to care for him and protect him. You betrayed the trust he was entitled to," he added. |
| The couple were convicted at Mold Crown Court in May | |
| The court heard that since Buck's conviction, she had admitted "lightly shaking" Ryan, but only after he had fallen ill. Rhys Rowlands, prosecuting, said the admission was not consistent with the violence inflicted on Ryan. | The court heard that since Buck's conviction, she had admitted "lightly shaking" Ryan, but only after he had fallen ill. Rhys Rowlands, prosecuting, said the admission was not consistent with the violence inflicted on Ryan. |
| "Such a light shaking would not have caused the catastrophic injury that would have caused Ryan's death," he added | "Such a light shaking would not have caused the catastrophic injury that would have caused Ryan's death," he added |
| Judge Hughes said little weight could be given to Buck's admission. | Judge Hughes said little weight could be given to Buck's admission. |
| Jeff Clarke, defending Boswell, said he still maintained he had nothing to do with his son's death. | Jeff Clarke, defending Boswell, said he still maintained he had nothing to do with his son's death. |
| In mitigation, he said the offence was not pre-meditated, that an ambulance was called straight away and there was no evidence of "direct violence" against Ryan. | In mitigation, he said the offence was not pre-meditated, that an ambulance was called straight away and there was no evidence of "direct violence" against Ryan. |
| Brian Kennedy, defending Buck, said she was a "victim as well as a perpetrator", having lost her son. He added that she had cared well for her baby in the weeks before his death, and was a "good mother". | Brian Kennedy, defending Buck, said she was a "victim as well as a perpetrator", having lost her son. He added that she had cared well for her baby in the weeks before his death, and was a "good mother". |
| In November 2006, 21-year-old Rebecca Lewis from Swansea became one of the first people in the UK to be convicted under the new offence of familial homicide. | In November 2006, 21-year-old Rebecca Lewis from Swansea became one of the first people in the UK to be convicted under the new offence of familial homicide. |
| She was jailed for six years for failing to prevent her baby son Aaron Gilbert's murder in May 2005 by her partner Andrew Lloyd. | She was jailed for six years for failing to prevent her baby son Aaron Gilbert's murder in May 2005 by her partner Andrew Lloyd. |