This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-30576515
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Levi-Blu Cassin: Parents jailed over toddler's murder | Levi-Blu Cassin: Parents jailed over toddler's murder |
(35 minutes later) | |
A mother and father convicted of causing or allowing the death of their young son have each been sentenced to nine years in prison. | A mother and father convicted of causing or allowing the death of their young son have each been sentenced to nine years in prison. |
Danielle Cassin, 27, and Mark Piper, 31, had both denied delivering a fatal blow to Levi-Blu Cassin at their home in the West Midlands last February. | Danielle Cassin, 27, and Mark Piper, 31, had both denied delivering a fatal blow to Levi-Blu Cassin at their home in the West Midlands last February. |
The 22-month-old died from "catastrophic" internal injuries. | The 22-month-old died from "catastrophic" internal injuries. |
At Birmingham Crown Court on Friday, the pair were cleared of his murder and manslaughter | |
Stomach 'split' | Stomach 'split' |
Cassin, of Frensham Close, Chelmsley Wood, and Piper, of no fixed abode, were found guilty of causing or allowing the death of their son. | |
Both gave differing accounts of what happened in the hours leading up to Levi-Blu's death and effectively blamed each other for his injuries. | |
The court was told that post-mortem examinations revealed the toddler's duodenum - where the small intestine meets the stomach - was split in two. | The court was told that post-mortem examinations revealed the toddler's duodenum - where the small intestine meets the stomach - was split in two. |
During their trial, evidence was also presented that showed Levi-Blu sustained less serious injuries two or three weeks before his death. | During their trial, evidence was also presented that showed Levi-Blu sustained less serious injuries two or three weeks before his death. |
However, medical experts told the jury it was likely the toddler suffered the fatal injury about 12 hours before his death. | However, medical experts told the jury it was likely the toddler suffered the fatal injury about 12 hours before his death. |
Levi-Blu was found at the flat his parents shared in Nightingale Avenue, Chelmsley Wood on 20 February 2013. | |
Jurors were told Ms Cassin took heroin and crack cocaine and had wanted to go out "on a session to get drugs" the night her son died. | |
Mr Piper was described in court as a man "with a propensity to attack children", with one ex-girlfriend saying he had been violent towards her and her son. | |
Solihull Local Safeguarding Children Board has confirmed a serious case review is being carried out and is expected to be published in the spring. |