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Man convicted of Brandon killing | |
(20 minutes later) | |
A man has been found guilty of killing his girlfriend's 23-month-old son. | |
Robert Cunningham, 23, had denied murdering Brandon Muir, who died in Dundee in March 2008 after suffering more than 40 injuries. | |
He was convicted of the lesser charge of culpable homicide by a majority verdict at the High Court in Glasgow. He will be sentenced later. | |
It has been announced that a review of child protection services in Dundee will be carried out following the case. | |
Brandon's mother Heather Boyd, 23, was cleared last week of charges including her son's culpable homicide. | |
Brandon died at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee after suffering what the jury was told would have been a painful death. | Brandon died at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee after suffering what the jury was told would have been a painful death. |
His injuries included broken ribs and a ruptured intestine. | |
During the trial, medical experts said the injuries had been caused by a "massive blow" to his stomach area. | |
Brandon Muir died after his intestine ruptured | Brandon Muir died after his intestine ruptured |
He had been left in the care of Cunningham the day before he died while his mother went to the supermarket. | He had been left in the care of Cunningham the day before he died while his mother went to the supermarket. |
Ms Boyd, a heroin addict, said her son had been unwell when she returned. | Ms Boyd, a heroin addict, said her son had been unwell when she returned. |
Cunningham was convicted of culpable homicide by assaulting Brandon so severely on 15 March last year that he died the following day in hospital. | |
Charges that he repeatedly and wilfully ill-treated Brandon and another young boy were withdrawn by the Crown on Monday. | Charges that he repeatedly and wilfully ill-treated Brandon and another young boy were withdrawn by the Crown on Monday. |
Pathologists who conducted a post-mortem examination on the toddler's body found cuts and bruises on his head, shoulder blades, abdomen, back, hands and abrasions on the inside of his eye. | Pathologists who conducted a post-mortem examination on the toddler's body found cuts and bruises on his head, shoulder blades, abdomen, back, hands and abrasions on the inside of his eye. |
Police reports said the injuries dated from the last three weeks of Brandon's life, the period after Cunningham had moved into the family home in Balunie Crescent. | Police reports said the injuries dated from the last three weeks of Brandon's life, the period after Cunningham had moved into the family home in Balunie Crescent. |