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| Liam Fee: Mother and partner found guilty of murdering two-year-old boy in Fife | Liam Fee: Mother and partner found guilty of murdering two-year-old boy in Fife |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A mother and her partner have been found guilty of murdering her two-year-old son in Fife. | A mother and her partner have been found guilty of murdering her two-year-old son in Fife. |
| Rachel and Nyomi Fee were found guilty of assaulting and killing their son Liam at his home near Glenrothes in March 2014. | Rachel and Nyomi Fee were found guilty of assaulting and killing their son Liam at his home near Glenrothes in March 2014. |
| They were convicted following a seven-week trial heard at the High Court in Livingston. | They were convicted following a seven-week trial heard at the High Court in Livingston. |
| The pair had blamed another boy for the death but the jury concluded they had subjected the toddler to escalating cruelty throughout his life. They were also found guilty of abusing two other children. | |
| The court heard how the two children – who cannot be named for legal reasons – were subjected to physical and pyschological abuse over several years. | |
| They forced one child to sleep in a cage and the other to sleep in a room with rats and snakes they said "ate little boys". | They forced one child to sleep in a cage and the other to sleep in a room with rats and snakes they said "ate little boys". |
| Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Rory Hamilton praised the courage of the two children whose evidence, he said, was key to securing the conviction of the pair. | Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Rory Hamilton praised the courage of the two children whose evidence, he said, was key to securing the conviction of the pair. |
| Both primary school age children were present in the house the night Liam died and when the police arrived the women had blamed one for his death. | Both primary school age children were present in the house the night Liam died and when the police arrived the women had blamed one for his death. |
| The little boy then appeared to admit responsibility, claiming he had "strangled" the little boy by putting his hands over his mouth. | The little boy then appeared to admit responsibility, claiming he had "strangled" the little boy by putting his hands over his mouth. |
| But in a series of five video recorded interviews carried out separately over several weeks with both children they began to admit the truth. | But in a series of five video recorded interviews carried out separately over several weeks with both children they began to admit the truth. |
| Far from being strangled, Liam had died from a single blow to the abdomen which had ruptured his heart. | Far from being strangled, Liam had died from a single blow to the abdomen which had ruptured his heart. |
| In the days before his death, pathologists found he had also suffered a broken leg and arm. | In the days before his death, pathologists found he had also suffered a broken leg and arm. |
| Analysis of both women's phones showed that the Monday before his death they had made internet searches asking "how do you treat a broken leg?" and "can wives go to prison together?". | Analysis of both women's phones showed that the Monday before his death they had made internet searches asking "how do you treat a broken leg?" and "can wives go to prison together?". |
| Interviews with family and friends also began to paint a picture of an intensely close couple who regarded Liam as "an inconvenience". | Interviews with family and friends also began to paint a picture of an intensely close couple who regarded Liam as "an inconvenience". |
| DI Hamilton said the deterioration in Liam's care began when his mother Rachel,31, left his father, Joseph Johnson, to move to Scotland to be with Nyomi,28, in August 2011. | DI Hamilton said the deterioration in Liam's care began when his mother Rachel,31, left his father, Joseph Johnson, to move to Scotland to be with Nyomi,28, in August 2011. |
| He said: "Nyomi would certainly appear to be quite a domineering part of the relationship, certainly from what the investigation uncovered." | He said: "Nyomi would certainly appear to be quite a domineering part of the relationship, certainly from what the investigation uncovered." |
| Jurors were moved to tears after a video showing Liam's body was showed to the court. | Jurors were moved to tears after a video showing Liam's body was showed to the court. |
| After 12 minutes, one juror raised their hand to ask for a break in proceedings to give people time to compose themselves. | After 12 minutes, one juror raised their hand to ask for a break in proceedings to give people time to compose themselves. |
| The silent recording, taken hours after the toddler died, was taken by detectives. | The silent recording, taken hours after the toddler died, was taken by detectives. |
| Going through every room in the house, numerous family photos were spotted on the walls as well as toys dotted around the rooms. | Going through every room in the house, numerous family photos were spotted on the walls as well as toys dotted around the rooms. |
| The final images of the video showed Liam lying dead on his bedroom floor, dressed in cartoon character pyjamas with a duvet covering him up to his neck. | The final images of the video showed Liam lying dead on his bedroom floor, dressed in cartoon character pyjamas with a duvet covering him up to his neck. |
| He looked like he was sleeping. | He looked like he was sleeping. |
| Fife Child Protection Committee has said it would carry out a significant case review after it was found that social services had been alerted to Fees' abuse but failed to take any action. | Fife Child Protection Committee has said it would carry out a significant case review after it was found that social services had been alerted to Fees' abuse but failed to take any action. |
| Liam's nursery had alerted social services after they noticed Liam had become withdrawn - in contrast to the happy little boy he had been when he first arrived. | Liam's nursery had alerted social services after they noticed Liam had become withdrawn - in contrast to the happy little boy he had been when he first arrived. |
| Staff also found he had a lot of injuries and was losing weight. | Staff also found he had a lot of injuries and was losing weight. |
| Around this time his childminder also raised concerns about him. | Around this time his childminder also raised concerns about him. |
| Despite this, a senior Fife social worker admitted in council his case had been dropped as he "fell off their radar" when a member of staff went on sick leave and no-one took over the case. | Despite this, a senior Fife social worker admitted in council his case had been dropped as he "fell off their radar" when a member of staff went on sick leave and no-one took over the case. |
| Vice-chairman of the Fife Child Protection Committee, Douglas Dunlop told the BBC: "The circumstances of supporting families in situations such as this can be complex and there were a range of agencies involved in supporting Liam and his family and the details of that will be looked at through the Significant Case Review." | Vice-chairman of the Fife Child Protection Committee, Douglas Dunlop told the BBC: "The circumstances of supporting families in situations such as this can be complex and there were a range of agencies involved in supporting Liam and his family and the details of that will be looked at through the Significant Case Review." |
| Additional reporting by PA | Additional reporting by PA |