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| Mother allowed baby son's murder | Mother allowed baby son's murder |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A 21-year-old woman has been found guilty of the new charge of familial homicide by failing to prevent her baby son's murder by her partner. | |
| Rebecca Lewis's 13-month-old son Aaron Gilbert died from brain damage in May. He had suffered 50 injuries. | |
| Her partner at the time, Andrew Lloyd, 23, pleaded guilty to murder at Swansea Crown Court over two weeks ago. | |
| Ms Lewis from Swansea, denied familial homicide and was the first person in Wales to face the charge. | |
| Lewis and Lloyd, both of Townhill in Swansea, will be sentenced together at a later date. | |
| During the month-long trial, the jury heard Ms Lewis had begun a relationship with Lloyd following the break-up of her relationship with Aaron's father Gareth Gilbert. | |
| Although at first she described Lloyd as "brilliant" with the baby, within three weeks of meeting him there were problems with how he treated Aaron. | Although at first she described Lloyd as "brilliant" with the baby, within three weeks of meeting him there were problems with how he treated Aaron. |
| The jury was told Lloyd had flicked Aaron's ears when he cried, picked him up on two occasions and thrown him onto a bed and settee, and once when left in Lloyd's care the baby had suffered a bite to his face. | The jury was told Lloyd had flicked Aaron's ears when he cried, picked him up on two occasions and thrown him onto a bed and settee, and once when left in Lloyd's care the baby had suffered a bite to his face. |
| Aaron Gilbert died of brain damage with 50 injuries on his body | Aaron Gilbert died of brain damage with 50 injuries on his body |
| On the day before Aaron died in May 2005, Ms Lewis left him with Lloyd for about 15 minutes to go shopping, and returned to find him grey and not breathing. | On the day before Aaron died in May 2005, Ms Lewis left him with Lloyd for about 15 minutes to go shopping, and returned to find him grey and not breathing. |
| Doctors at Singleton Hospital and later the University of Wales Hospital, Cardiff, tried for 18 hours to save Aaron's life but he died of brain damage. | Doctors at Singleton Hospital and later the University of Wales Hospital, Cardiff, tried for 18 hours to save Aaron's life but he died of brain damage. |
| Ms Lewis admitted in court she had let Lloyd mistreat the baby because she feared for her own safety, but thought he would not hurt Aaron "seriously". | Ms Lewis admitted in court she had let Lloyd mistreat the baby because she feared for her own safety, but thought he would not hurt Aaron "seriously". |
| She said she loved Lloyd and had trusted him, and did not believe he had murdered Aaron until she heard him admit it in court. | She said she loved Lloyd and had trusted him, and did not believe he had murdered Aaron until she heard him admit it in court. |
| Lloyd initially denied murder but changed his plea during the trial when he heard the medical evidence surrounding Aaron's death. He will be sentenced at a later date. | Lloyd initially denied murder but changed his plea during the trial when he heard the medical evidence surrounding Aaron's death. He will be sentenced at a later date. |
| The charge of familial homicide came into force in May 2005 under Section 5 of the Domestic Violence, Crimes and Victims Act 2004. | |
| It not only applies to the person who caused a death but also to other members of the household who stood by and did not take reasonable steps to protect the victim. |