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| Babysitter beat toddler to death | Babysitter beat toddler to death |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A 15-year-old boy has been convicted of murdering a two-year-old girl who was left in his care for 90 minutes. | A 15-year-old boy has been convicted of murdering a two-year-old girl who was left in his care for 90 minutes. |
| Demi Leigh Mahon was beaten, bitten and had her hair sheared off during the attack which left her with 68 injuries, Manchester Crown Court heard. | Demi Leigh Mahon was beaten, bitten and had her hair sheared off during the attack which left her with 68 injuries, Manchester Crown Court heard. |
| She was left with killer Karl McCluney while her mother went to claim a child benefit cheque in July last year. | She was left with killer Karl McCluney while her mother went to claim a child benefit cheque in July last year. |
| McCluney took her to a park before attacking her at a house in Salford, Greater Manchester. | McCluney took her to a park before attacking her at a house in Salford, Greater Manchester. |
| He had admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility but the jury rejected this claim. | He had admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility but the jury rejected this claim. |
| Following McCluney's conviction the judge, Mr Justice Sweeney lifted the reporting restrictions on the defendant's identity. | Following McCluney's conviction the judge, Mr Justice Sweeney lifted the reporting restrictions on the defendant's identity. |
| The attack on Demi Leigh was so ferocious, the court heard, that she was left brain-damaged after being punched repeatedly in the face. | The attack on Demi Leigh was so ferocious, the court heard, that she was left brain-damaged after being punched repeatedly in the face. |
| Toddler's death was 'unavoidable' | |
| Pathologist Dr Naomi Carter said part of her scalp was also sheared off, most likely as a result of it coming into contact with a hard surface. | Pathologist Dr Naomi Carter said part of her scalp was also sheared off, most likely as a result of it coming into contact with a hard surface. |
| Dr Carter told the jury it was neither "reasonable or credible" the vast majority of the injuries were sustained accidentally. | Dr Carter told the jury it was neither "reasonable or credible" the vast majority of the injuries were sustained accidentally. |
| When her mother, Ann Marie McDonald, returned she saw the injuries he had inflicted. | When her mother, Ann Marie McDonald, returned she saw the injuries he had inflicted. |
| She told the court during the five day trial: "I screamed 'Why haven't you rung an ambulance?'. | She told the court during the five day trial: "I screamed 'Why haven't you rung an ambulance?'. |
| "He said 'I never done nothing, I've not done nothing'." | "He said 'I never done nothing, I've not done nothing'." |
| Karl McCluney killed Demi Leigh but tried to say it was an accident | Karl McCluney killed Demi Leigh but tried to say it was an accident |
| Demi Leigh was taken to hospital where her parents were at her bedside when her life support machine was switched off two days later. | Demi Leigh was taken to hospital where her parents were at her bedside when her life support machine was switched off two days later. |
| At first, McCluney tried to pretend the little girl had fallen over in the park and hurt herself, but it was clear she had been beaten. | At first, McCluney tried to pretend the little girl had fallen over in the park and hurt herself, but it was clear she had been beaten. |
| Speaking before the verdict, her father, Gary Mahon, described seeing her in hospital. | Speaking before the verdict, her father, Gary Mahon, described seeing her in hospital. |
| "I knew she was going to die," he said, "There was no way she could have lived through that, it was disgusting." | "I knew she was going to die," he said, "There was no way she could have lived through that, it was disgusting." |
| Psychiatrist Dr Cesar Lengua said he had made an admission of guilt to a health worker: "I'm not proud of what I've done and everyone will think I'm a monster but nobody can ever punish me as much as I'll punish myself." | Psychiatrist Dr Cesar Lengua said he had made an admission of guilt to a health worker: "I'm not proud of what I've done and everyone will think I'm a monster but nobody can ever punish me as much as I'll punish myself." |
| Dr Lengua, who was called by the defence, said the boy suffered from an unsocialised conduct disorder and had a "below normal" IQ. | Dr Lengua, who was called by the defence, said the boy suffered from an unsocialised conduct disorder and had a "below normal" IQ. |
| He said it was clear there were "disharmonious relationships between the parental figures in this boy's life" and family dynamics were crucial to understanding the development of his conduct disorder. | He said it was clear there were "disharmonious relationships between the parental figures in this boy's life" and family dynamics were crucial to understanding the development of his conduct disorder. |
| The jury heard the boy has never explained his attack on Demi Leigh but has alluded to the fact he was angry with her behaviour. | The jury heard the boy has never explained his attack on Demi Leigh but has alluded to the fact he was angry with her behaviour. |