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Boy detained for toddler murder | Boy detained for toddler murder |
(10 minutes later) | |
A 16-year-old boy who beat a toddler to death while babysitting has been sentenced to 15 years detention. | A 16-year-old boy who beat a toddler to death while babysitting has been sentenced to 15 years detention. |
Karl McCluney punched Demi Leigh Mahon in the face, bit her and left with at least 68 injuries during the sustained attack in Salford in July 2008. | |
The two-year-old suffered brain damage and died two days later. | |
McCluney, who was left in charge of Demi Leigh for about an hour and a half, admitted manslaughter but was convicted of murder by a jury. | McCluney, who was left in charge of Demi Leigh for about an hour and a half, admitted manslaughter but was convicted of murder by a jury. |
He attacked Demi Leigh on his 15th birthday. | |
'Stood no chance' | |
The teenager sat slouched in a chair as the sentence was handed to him by Mr Justice Sweeney, who described the murder as "savage". | |
He said McCluney was "fed up" because no-one had planned anything for his birthday and became angry when Demi Leigh began crying. | |
"You got angrier and angrier until you lost your temper altogether. | |
Demi Leigh Mahon was left brain-damaged in the attack | |
"You then, over a period according to you of about 10 minutes, hit her many times. | |
"You were large and powerful, she was only a small child and stood no chance against your onslaught." | |
McCluney had admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility but the jury rejected this claim and convicted him of her murder on 26 June. | |
Speaking after the conviction, Demi Leigh's devastated father, Gary Mahon, said: "She was so beautiful and always smiling with these bright blue eyes." | |
He said of McCluney: "He took away my little girl." | He said of McCluney: "He took away my little girl." |
McCluney was diagnosed with suffering an unsocialised conduct disorder and had a "below normal" IQ, the court heard during the trial. | McCluney was diagnosed with suffering an unsocialised conduct disorder and had a "below normal" IQ, the court heard during the trial. |
The boy has never fully explained his attack on Demi Leigh but had alluded to the fact he was angry with her behaviour. |