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Man convicted of Brandon killing | Man convicted of Brandon killing |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A man has been found guilty of killing his girlfriend's 23-month-old son. | 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. | 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 this month. | 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 this month. |
It has been announced that a review of child protection services in Dundee will be carried out following the case. | It has been announced that a review of child protection services in Dundee will be carried out following the case. |
The Scottish Government has also announced plans to bring forward the publication of an inspection into the department, which began in February this year. | |
Heather Boyd was cleared of culpable homicide | |
Brandon Muir died at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee on 16 March 2008 after suffering what the jury was told would have been a painful death. | |
His injuries included broken ribs and a ruptured intestine. | 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. | During the trial, medical experts said the injuries had been caused by a "massive blow" to his stomach area. |
He had been left in the care of Cunningham the day before he died while his mother Heather Boyd went to the supermarket. | |
Ms Boyd, 23, a heroin addict, said her son had been unwell when she returned. | |
John Muir, Brandon's father, talks about the death of his son | |
She was cleared last week of the charges against her, including her son's culpable homicide. | |
Pathologists who conducted a post-mortem examination on Brandon'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. |
Cunningham was convicted of culpable homicide after jurors took just one hour and 25 minutes to return their majority verdict. | Cunningham was convicted of culpable homicide after jurors took just one hour and 25 minutes to return their majority verdict. |
No comfort | |
Judge John Morris deferred sentence until 31 March for background reports. | Judge John Morris deferred sentence until 31 March for background reports. |
Charges that Cunningham repeatedly and wilfully ill-treated Brandon and another young boy were withdrawn by the Crown on Monday. | Charges that Cunningham repeatedly and wilfully ill-treated Brandon and another young boy were withdrawn by the Crown on Monday. |
Brandon's father, John Muir, said the verdict had brought him no comfort. | |
He said: "Robert's been done with culpable homicide, which is five to ten years and if he gets five years, he'll be out in a year and a bit. | |
"Brandon's life was [worth] more than that." | |
The man who led the police inquiry into Brandon's death said the toddler may have still been alive if people had reported their concerns about him. | The man who led the police inquiry into Brandon's death said the toddler may have still been alive if people had reported their concerns about him. |
Brandon Muir died after his intestine ruptured | |
Tayside Police Ch Insp Willie Semple said people should have come forward irrespective of "how they feel about talking to the authorities". | Tayside Police Ch Insp Willie Semple said people should have come forward irrespective of "how they feel about talking to the authorities". |
He said: "When we carried out this inquiry we uncovered a lot of information from people. | He said: "When we carried out this inquiry we uncovered a lot of information from people. |
"If they had shared that with social workers, potentially we would not have had a trial. | "If they had shared that with social workers, potentially we would not have had a trial. |
"It should not matter how insignificant they think it is or how they feel about talking to the authorities. | "It should not matter how insignificant they think it is or how they feel about talking to the authorities. |
"I am not saying Brandon Muir would have been alive today, but he may have been." | "I am not saying Brandon Muir would have been alive today, but he may have been." |
The Scottish Government's HMIE report into children's services in Dundee, which began last month, will be published in June, three months ahead of its original September publication date. | |
The separate independent review into the department will be led by Peter Wilson, the former chief constable of Fife Constabulary. |