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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Daniel Pelka murder: Mother and partner given life | Daniel Pelka murder: Mother and partner given life |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The mother of Daniel Pelka and her partner have been jailed for life for the four-year-old's murder. | The mother of Daniel Pelka and her partner have been jailed for life for the four-year-old's murder. |
| Magdelena Luczak, 27, and Mariusz Krezolek, 34, must serve a minimum of 30 years each for what the judge called their "incomprehensible brutality". | Magdelena Luczak, 27, and Mariusz Krezolek, 34, must serve a minimum of 30 years each for what the judge called their "incomprehensible brutality". |
| Luczak and Krezolek blamed each other for killing Daniel who died from a head injury in March 2012. | Luczak and Krezolek blamed each other for killing Daniel who died from a head injury in March 2012. |
| Daniel, who had also been starved by the pair, weighed just over a stone and a half when he died. | Daniel, who had also been starved by the pair, weighed just over a stone and a half when he died. |
| 'Campaign of cruelty' | 'Campaign of cruelty' |
| At Birmingham Crown Court, Judge Mrs Justice Cox told Luczak and Krezolek, who lived in Coventry, they had "caused [Daniel] severe physical and mental suffering". | At Birmingham Crown Court, Judge Mrs Justice Cox told Luczak and Krezolek, who lived in Coventry, they had "caused [Daniel] severe physical and mental suffering". |
| She said Daniel's punishments were "designed to humiliate" and that he was "a victim of chronic and systematic starvation" in a "campaign of cruelty". | She said Daniel's punishments were "designed to humiliate" and that he was "a victim of chronic and systematic starvation" in a "campaign of cruelty". |
| Mrs Justice Cox said: "Complicity in ill treatment started with a broken arm when he was just three and a half. | Mrs Justice Cox said: "Complicity in ill treatment started with a broken arm when he was just three and a half. |
| "What was handed out to Daniel was incomprehensible brutality by both of you." | "What was handed out to Daniel was incomprehensible brutality by both of you." |
| He was also subjected to cold water punishment. | He was also subjected to cold water punishment. |
| "We will never know exactly what form it took because you have not explained it - he must have been absolutely terrified," Mrs Justice Cox said. | "We will never know exactly what form it took because you have not explained it - he must have been absolutely terrified," Mrs Justice Cox said. |
| The pair "constructed a careful and wholly untruthful account" that Daniel had a serious eating disorder and learning difficulties, for which he was receiving medical treatment. | The pair "constructed a careful and wholly untruthful account" that Daniel had a serious eating disorder and learning difficulties, for which he was receiving medical treatment. |
| "This account was deliberately designed to prevent interference by school, medical and welfare personnel, and to perpetuate the brutality being meted out to him." | "This account was deliberately designed to prevent interference by school, medical and welfare personnel, and to perpetuate the brutality being meted out to him." |
| The judge said Luczak and Krezolek "instructed and encouraged" Daniel's sibling to tell lies to the authorities if they "were asked any questions about what was happening at home". | The judge said Luczak and Krezolek "instructed and encouraged" Daniel's sibling to tell lies to the authorities if they "were asked any questions about what was happening at home". |
| 'Failings' | 'Failings' |
| The judge said the level of culpability of Luczak and Krezolek was "extremely high" and that there was "minimal mitigation in this case". | The judge said the level of culpability of Luczak and Krezolek was "extremely high" and that there was "minimal mitigation in this case". |
| Stephen Linnehan, representing Luczak, told the court she had come to "this country in search of a better life" and "has now lost everything". | Stephen Linnehan, representing Luczak, told the court she had come to "this country in search of a better life" and "has now lost everything". |
| Krezolek's barrister told the court he did not have the intention to kill and was "deeply ashamed" of his conduct [towards Daniel]. | Krezolek's barrister told the court he did not have the intention to kill and was "deeply ashamed" of his conduct [towards Daniel]. |
| Speaking to BBC News in Poland after the pair were sentenced, Luczak's mother, Jolanta, said she was shocked but questioned the extent of her daughter's role in the abuse. | Speaking to BBC News in Poland after the pair were sentenced, Luczak's mother, Jolanta, said she was shocked but questioned the extent of her daughter's role in the abuse. |
| She said: "I don't know how guilty she is. She was under his [Krezolek's] influence but also England - the British state - are responsible. | She said: "I don't know how guilty she is. She was under his [Krezolek's] influence but also England - the British state - are responsible. |
| "How could they have not seen what was going on, I don't understand it. | "How could they have not seen what was going on, I don't understand it. |
| "The sentence should include them. | "The sentence should include them. |
| "She was a normal girl, we were a normal family. It wouldn't have happened in Poland." | |
| She added her husband died of a heart attack last year - caused by the tragedy. | |
| "I lost my grandson, then I lost my husband and now my daughter," she said. | |
| "Will I see [my daughter] before I die?" | |
| 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. |
| The review will look at what was done by police and social services after staff at Daniel's school - Coventry Little Heath Primary School - noticed bruising on his neck and what appeared to be two black eyes. | The review will look at what was done by police and social services after staff at Daniel's school - Coventry Little Heath Primary School - noticed bruising on his neck and what appeared to be two black eyes. |
| 'Very difficult case' | 'Very difficult case' |
| Speaking to BBC News, Amy Weir, the independent chair of the board said: "Clearly there were failings in Daniel's case and the serious case review is looking at why systems that are in place were not used." | Speaking to BBC News, Amy Weir, the independent chair of the board said: "Clearly there were failings in Daniel's case and the serious case review is looking at why systems that are in place were not used." |
| Geoffrey Robinson, the MP for Coventry North West, has called for children's services director Colin Green to resign now, rather than in September as planned. | |
| He added Daniel was "badly let down" not just by "an evil stepfather and an indifferent and selfish mother" but also by his school, health professionals and social services. | |
| "Those who failed Daniel must examine their own consciences, and conclude whether it is appropriate for them to remain in their posts." | |
| Nushra Mansuri, from the British Association of Social Workers said it was "absolutely right" that they got the minimum term of 30 years. | Nushra Mansuri, from the British Association of Social Workers said it was "absolutely right" that they got the minimum term of 30 years. |
| "There are very few words we can use to describe his [Daniel's] experience. | "There are very few words we can use to describe his [Daniel's] experience. |
| "The next stage will be the case review, when we may get details on what was missed by agencies and this will be critical. | "The next stage will be the case review, when we may get details on what was missed by agencies and this will be critical. |
| "I wish that we could have a completely infallible system but that is not possible. | "I wish that we could have a completely infallible system but that is not possible. |
| "We can look at cases like Daniel's, but we cannot give a cast-iron guarantee that mistakes will never be made. | "We can look at cases like Daniel's, but we cannot give a cast-iron guarantee that mistakes will never be made. |
| "I agree it is difficult to see how he could slip through the system and that is why we need to examine the decision taken." | "I agree it is difficult to see how he could slip through the system and that is why we need to examine the decision taken." |
| Senior crown prosecutor, Lisa Windridge, said: "We hope that the sentence today brings closure to this case to the family of Daniel both in this country and in Poland. | Senior crown prosecutor, Lisa Windridge, said: "We hope that the sentence today brings closure to this case to the family of Daniel both in this country and in Poland. |
| "This has been a very difficult case for all of those involved with it and we are pleased that justice has finally been achieved for Daniel Pelka." | "This has been a very difficult case for all of those involved with it and we are pleased that justice has finally been achieved for Daniel Pelka." |