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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. |
Judge Mr Justice Goss told the pair they were "selfish, neglectful and manipulative". | |
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 on Friday. | |
They were cleared of his murder and manslaughter at Birmingham Crown Court. | |
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. | 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. |
He was was found at the flat his parents shared in Nightingale Avenue, Chelmsley Wood on 20 February 2013. | |
Sentencing Cassin, Judge Goss told her she "repeatedly lied to, or deceived" those seeking to protect her son. | |
He said: "You concealed the violence in your relationship and you chose to permit Levi to be exposed to all the attendant risks." | |
Her failure to address her drug habit meant she put her own "selfish interests above all else", he added. | |
'Stamped or kicked' | |
Sentencing Piper, the judge said: "There is no indication you had your son's interests at heart." | |
He was a father more interested in playing on his Playstation than in caring for his son. | |
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. |
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. | 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. | 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. |
Judge Goss said Levi-Blu was "stamped on or kicked" with "very significant force required" to inflict the injuries that killed him. | |
"Levi would have been in pain, very upset and distressed," he said. | |
His family must "live with the anguish of not knowing what happened to him". | |
Solihull Local Safeguarding Children Board has confirmed a serious case review is being carried out and is expected to be published in the spring. | Solihull Local Safeguarding Children Board has confirmed a serious case review is being carried out and is expected to be published in the spring. |