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Ben Butler jailed for murdering daughter Ellie after custody battle Ben Butler jailed for murdering daughter Ellie after custody battle
(35 minutes later)
A father who murdered his six-year-old daughter just 11 months after she was returned to his care following a custody battle has been jailed.A father who murdered his six-year-old daughter just 11 months after she was returned to his care following a custody battle has been jailed.
Ben Butler inflicted catastrophic head injuries to Ellie while looking after her at their home in Sutton, south-west London, in October 2013. Ben Butler, 36, inflicted catastrophic head injuries upon Ellie while looking after her at their home in Sutton, south-west London, in October 2013.
The 36-year-old was also found guilty of child cruelty over a shoulder injury as was Ellie's mother Jennie Gray. He was also found guilty of child cruelty over a shoulder injury, as was Ellie's mother Jennie Gray.
He was jailed for a minimum of 23 years. Gray was jailed for 42 months.He was jailed for a minimum of 23 years. Gray was jailed for 42 months.
Gray, a graphic designer, had admitted perverting the course of justice.Gray, a graphic designer, had admitted perverting the course of justice.
The exonerated father who went on to killThe exonerated father who went on to kill
More on this story on BBC London LiveMore on this story on BBC London Live
Following the guilty verdict earlier, Butler shouted out: "I'll fight for the rest of my life - unbelievable," before adding: "I want to be sentenced now so I can fight in the Appeal Court."Following the guilty verdict earlier, Butler shouted out: "I'll fight for the rest of my life - unbelievable," before adding: "I want to be sentenced now so I can fight in the Appeal Court."
He added: "I will fight forever to prove this wrong. My daughter was jumping in the house. I'm 100% not guilty."He added: "I will fight forever to prove this wrong. My daughter was jumping in the house. I'm 100% not guilty."
Gray said: "Big mistake. Spend another 10 years proving you wrong."Gray said: "Big mistake. Spend another 10 years proving you wrong."
Butler was previously convicted for shaking Ellie as a baby, although this was later quashed on appeal.Butler was previously convicted for shaking Ellie as a baby, although this was later quashed on appeal.
The couple then won a High Court judgement to have Ellie returned to their care in 2012.The couple then won a High Court judgement to have Ellie returned to their care in 2012.
Mrs Justice Hogg had sided with Butler despite objections from police, social services and Ellie's maternal grandfather, Neal Gray.Mrs Justice Hogg had sided with Butler despite objections from police, social services and Ellie's maternal grandfather, Neal Gray.
At the time, Mr Gray - who had cared for Ellie since she was a baby - had allegedly warned the judge she would have "blood on your hands".At the time, Mr Gray - who had cared for Ellie since she was a baby - had allegedly warned the judge she would have "blood on your hands".
Ellie's grandmother Linda Gray died on the first day of the murder trial - a fact kept from Jennie Gray until sentencing as her father did not want to tell her. 'Infantile and sentimentalised fantasy'
In a joint statement written ahead of the trial, Ellie's grandparents said they had struggled to come to terms with the "shock and horror" of her death. Sentencing, Judge Mr Justice Wilkie told Butler: "You are a self-absorbed, ill-tempered, violent and domineering man who, I am satisfied, regarded your children and your partner as trophies, having no role other than to fit in with your infantile and sentimentalised fantasy of family life with you as the patriarch whose every whim was to be responded to appropriately."
"Ellie was a very beautiful, bubbly and intelligent little girl who always had a smile on her face and even at such a young age she was nobody's fool. She was our life and she gave so much pleasure to us and our family too, how we all miss her."
The couple did not directly refer to their daughter or Butler but said: "We did not realise that some people could be so wicked in life."
Jurors were told that Butler battered his daughter to death in a volcanic loss of temper.Jurors were told that Butler battered his daughter to death in a volcanic loss of temper.
He did not call 999 for two hours and instead called Jennie Gray back from work in the City of London.He did not call 999 for two hours and instead called Jennie Gray back from work in the City of London.
They then concocted an elaborate plot to destroy evidence and stage the scene of an accidental fall before alerting the ambulance service.They then concocted an elaborate plot to destroy evidence and stage the scene of an accidental fall before alerting the ambulance service.
'Won't wake up''Won't wake up'
The couple even involved Ellie's younger sibling by sending the child into a room on the pretext of fetching Ellie for cake, jurors were told.The couple even involved Ellie's younger sibling by sending the child into a room on the pretext of fetching Ellie for cake, jurors were told.
The child can be heard on the 999 call saying Ellie "won't wake up".The child can be heard on the 999 call saying Ellie "won't wake up".
Judge Wilkie told a sobbing Gray that she may have been "exceptionally naive and stupid" to believe Butler and take part in the cover-up.
He added: "You played your full part in the grotesque charade that was the 999 call whilst subjecting your dead daughter to the indignity of pointless CPR when you knew full well she had been dead for two hours."
Ellie's grandmother Linda Gray died on 19 April, the first day of the murder trial - a fact kept from Jennie Gray until sentencing as her father did not want to tell her.
In a joint statement written ahead of the trial, Ellie's grandparents said they had struggled to come to terms with the "shock and horror" of her death.
"Ellie was a very beautiful, bubbly and intelligent little girl who always had a smile on her face and even at such a young age she was nobody's fool. She was our life and she gave so much pleasure to us and our family too, how we all miss her."
The couple did not directly refer to their daughter or Butler but said: "We did not realise that some people could be so wicked in life."
The court heard harrowing evidence of a toxic family life dominated by a man described by prosecutors as "angry, overbearing and manipulative".The court heard harrowing evidence of a toxic family life dominated by a man described by prosecutors as "angry, overbearing and manipulative".
Butler had a "volatile temper" which could "explode at any time".Butler had a "volatile temper" which could "explode at any time".
In the months leading up to Ellie's death, he sent hundreds of abusive and threatening texts to Gray containing the most obscene and vile language, often directed at Ellie and a younger sibling.In the months leading up to Ellie's death, he sent hundreds of abusive and threatening texts to Gray containing the most obscene and vile language, often directed at Ellie and a younger sibling.
Jurors heard how he frequently beat Gray up and threw her out onto the streets.Jurors heard how he frequently beat Gray up and threw her out onto the streets.
A video clip played in court also showed him swearing aggressively on a phone call in the family kitchen in front of Ellie.A video clip played in court also showed him swearing aggressively on a phone call in the family kitchen in front of Ellie.
Malcolm McHaffie, CPS London Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor, said: "Ellie Butler was murdered in her home, where she should have felt safe, by her violent father who should have loved and protected her."Malcolm McHaffie, CPS London Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor, said: "Ellie Butler was murdered in her home, where she should have felt safe, by her violent father who should have loved and protected her."
He added: "We may never know exactly what happened in the last few hours of Ellie's life, but the CPS built a strong case to show that her death was the result of deliberate violence by Butler."He added: "We may never know exactly what happened in the last few hours of Ellie's life, but the CPS built a strong case to show that her death was the result of deliberate violence by Butler."