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Daniel Pelka murder: Mother and partner found guilty Daniel Pelka murder: Mother and partner found guilty
(35 minutes later)
A mother and her partner have been found guilty of murdering her four-year-old son, who had been beaten and starved.A mother and her partner have been found guilty of murdering her four-year-old son, who had been beaten and starved.
Daniel Pelka died from a head injury in Coventry in March 2012.Daniel Pelka died from a head injury in Coventry in March 2012.
During a nine-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court the boy's emaciated body was likened by a doctor to that of a concentration camp victim.During a nine-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court the boy's emaciated body was likened by a doctor to that of a concentration camp victim.
Mother Magdelena Luczak and her partner, Mariusz Krezolek had denied the charge. Mother Magdelena Luczak, 27, and her partner, Mariusz Krezolek, 34, had denied murder.
Both defendants gave a different version of events about what happened and blamed each other.Both defendants gave a different version of events about what happened and blamed each other.
'Coma' Google searches 'Wretched existence'
The court heard Daniel's head injury was one of 30 he suffered. The court heard Daniel's head injury was one of 30 he suffered and he weighed 14.8kg (32.6lb) in January 2011 and 13.8kg (30.4lb) three weeks before his death.
Det Insp Chris Hanson, of West Midlands Police, said: "He was beaten, he was drowned, and he was poisoned with salt.Det Insp Chris Hanson, of West Midlands Police, said: "He was beaten, he was drowned, and he was poisoned with salt.
"It was an absolutely wretched existence for him.""It was an absolutely wretched existence for him."
The Crown Prosecution Service said starving Daniel had been forced to steal food from fellow pupils and from school dustbins.The Crown Prosecution Service said starving Daniel had been forced to steal food from fellow pupils and from school dustbins.
And Eryk Pelka, Daniel's biological father, said: "It's a great tragedy that such a little angel had to leave this world.
"I hope that those responsible will be punished severely."
'Coma' Google searches
During the trial the court heard how Krezolek and Luczak, who came to the UK in 2006, hid the horrifying abuse by claiming Daniel had an eating disorder.During the trial the court heard how Krezolek and Luczak, who came to the UK in 2006, hid the horrifying abuse by claiming Daniel had an eating disorder.
Krezolek and Luczak blamed each other for Daniel's death but text messages between the pair had proved they worked as a team.Krezolek and Luczak blamed each other for Daniel's death but text messages between the pair had proved they worked as a team.
One text from Krezolek encouraged Luczak to lock Daniel in his box room. Another text from Luczak said she had nearly drowned him.
The court heard they had carried out Google searches including one for "patient in a coma".The court heard they had carried out Google searches including one for "patient in a coma".
Krezolek, a factory worker, and Luczak, who did not ill-treat a sibling of Daniel, were both drinking heavily and taking drugs, including cannabis and amphetamine, at the time of the abuse. Krezolek, a factory worker, and Luczak, were both drinking heavily and taking drugs, including cannabis and amphetamine, at the time of the abuse.
The couple, who never took Daniel to see his GP, had colluded in covering up an earlier act of cruelty in which Daniel's left arm was broken "clean in half" by Krezolek in a fit of temper.The couple, who never took Daniel to see his GP, had colluded in covering up an earlier act of cruelty in which Daniel's left arm was broken "clean in half" by Krezolek in a fit of temper.
Bruises fear
Jurors were also told how Daniel was left to die in his room - described as an unheated "cell" - for around 33 hours after suffering a fatal head injury at his Coventry home on March 1 last year.Jurors were also told how Daniel was left to die in his room - described as an unheated "cell" - for around 33 hours after suffering a fatal head injury at his Coventry home on March 1 last year.
Bruises fear
Luczak, who spoke through a Polish interpreter, told the court she didn't understand her own behaviour and that her partner had also tried to strangle her as he attacked Daniel in their home.Luczak, who spoke through a Polish interpreter, told the court she didn't understand her own behaviour and that her partner had also tried to strangle her as he attacked Daniel in their home.
She said she witnessed two separate assaults on 1 March, two days before an ambulance was called for the boy.She said she witnessed two separate assaults on 1 March, two days before an ambulance was called for the boy.
Her partner Krezolek told the court Luczak had prevented him calling an ambulance after Daniel fell because she was concerned social services would notice bruises on him. But Krezolek told the court Luczak had prevented him calling an ambulance after Daniel fell because she was concerned social services would notice bruises on him.
Krezolek said Daniel had lost consciousness while his mother was getting him ready for a bath.Krezolek said Daniel had lost consciousness while his mother was getting him ready for a bath.
In their evidence, the pair admitted going to sleep on both nights Daniel lay dying in his box room and that they had sex after he died.
Daniel's death is the subject of a serious case review by Coventry's Safeguarding Children Board and a report is due to be published in the next six weeks.Daniel's death is the subject of a serious case review by Coventry's Safeguarding Children Board and a report is due to be published in the next six weeks.
It will look at why police and social services did not get involved after staff at Daniel's school - Coventry Little Health Primary School - noticed bruising on his neck and what appeared to be two black eyes.
The trial heard Luczak played a leading role in convincing teachers and medical professionals that Daniel's dramatic weight loss, was due to a rare genetic disorder.
Krezolek and Luczak are due to be sentenced on Friday.Krezolek and Luczak are due to be sentenced on Friday.