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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.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.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.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 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. Lewis broke down in the dock and held her head in herhands as the verdict was delivered.
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. 'Swelling and bruising'
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. Four weeks before at the start of the trial, the prosecution alleged that although Lewis was largely absent when the violence was inflicted, her silence allowed it to continue.
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. Prosecutor Paul Lewis QC said Lloyd had caused a "constellation of some 50 injuries" to Aaron's body, including extensive swelling and bruising and significant internal injury to the brain.
"Andrew Lloyd systematically and violently assaulted adefenceless child and ultimately killed it," he added.
"Aaron's mother, Rebecca Lewis, who should have protected and cared for her son, allowed the injuries and ill-treatment to continue until, eventually, her inaction cost Aaron his life."
The jury heard Ms Lewis had begun a relationship with Lloyd following the break-up of her relationship with Aaron's father Gareth Gilbert.
Lewis told the trial that Lloyd had initially been "brilliant" with the baby but that within three weeks of meeting him there were problems with how he treated Aaron.
The jury was told he had flicked Aaron's ears when he cried, picked him up on two occasions and thrown him onto a bed and settee. On another occasion 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 bodyAaron 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, Lewis left him with Lloyd for about 15 minutes to go shopping. When he returned, she found Aaron on the kitchen floor. She said he was 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". Lewis admitted in court she had let Lloyd mistreat the baby because she feared for her own safety as he had threatened to kill her if she left him. But, she told the jury, she did not think he would 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.
Lewis was remanded in custody and will be sentenced alongside Lloyd on a date to be fixed.
Judge Mr Justice Langstaff told her a prison sentence looked "inevitable".
The charge of familial homicide came into force in May 2005 under Section 5 of the Domestic Violence, Crimes and Victims Act 2004.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. The Act allows any person in a household to be prosecuted for failing to intervene to protect a child victim of domestic crime.
Simon Howell, defending Lewis, told the court that the charge against her was"very rare, one of the first, possibly the first".