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| Levi-Blu Cassin: Parents jailed over toddler's death | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A "selfish and manipulative" couple who both denied delivering the fatal blow that killed their toddler son have each been jailed for nine years. | A "selfish and manipulative" couple who both denied delivering the fatal blow that killed their toddler son have each been jailed for nine years. |
| Levi-Blu Cassin suffered "catastrophic" internal injuries at his West Midlands home in February 2013. | Levi-Blu Cassin suffered "catastrophic" internal injuries at his West Midlands home in February 2013. |
| Parents Danielle Cassin and Mark Piper were convicted of causing or allowing his death - but cleared of murder. | Parents Danielle Cassin and Mark Piper were convicted of causing or allowing his death - but cleared of murder. |
| Levi-Blu's grandmother Angela Cassin said: "Nine years for a baby's life - that's absolutely disgusting." | Levi-Blu's grandmother Angela Cassin said: "Nine years for a baby's life - that's absolutely disgusting." |
| Judge Mr Justice Goss, sentencing, told the pair they were "selfish, neglectful and manipulative". | Judge Mr Justice Goss, sentencing, told the pair they were "selfish, neglectful and manipulative". |
| Stomach 'split' | Stomach 'split' |
| Cassin, 27, of Frensham Close, Chelmsley Wood, and Piper, 31, of no fixed abode, were on Friday found guilty of causing or allowing the death of their son. | Cassin, 27, of Frensham Close, Chelmsley Wood, and Piper, 31, of no fixed abode, were on Friday found guilty of causing or allowing the death of their son. |
| They were cleared of his murder and manslaughter at Birmingham Crown Court. | 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. | 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. | 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." | 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. | Her failure to address her drug habit meant she put her own "selfish interests above all else", he added. |
| 'Stamped or kicked' | 'Stamped or kicked' |
| Sentencing Piper, the judge said: "There is no indication you had your son's interests at heart." | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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". | 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. |
| Speaking outside court, Levi's grandmother, Angela Cassin, said: "Nine years for a baby's life - that's absolutely disgusting. | Speaking outside court, Levi's grandmother, Angela Cassin, said: "Nine years for a baby's life - that's absolutely disgusting. |
| "It's not justice - we don't even know what happened to him." | "It's not justice - we don't even know what happened to him." |
| Inspector Bob Sutton, from West Midlands Police, said: "Throughout the investigation and trial [Levi's parents] have continued to conceal the truth. | |
| "As parents they were in a unique position of trust and care - they did not meet their responsibilities." |