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| Murder accused Michael and Kerry Ives called child beaters - court | Murder accused Michael and Kerry Ives called child beaters - court |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Ethan Ives Griffiths died from a fatal brain injury in 2021 | Ethan Ives Griffiths died from a fatal brain injury in 2021 |
| A couple accused of murdering their grandson were called "child beaters" by their son, a court has heard. | A couple accused of murdering their grandson were called "child beaters" by their son, a court has heard. |
| Two-year-old Ethan Ives-Griffiths was living with his grandparents before he died on 16 August 2021 from a catastrophic head injury. | Two-year-old Ethan Ives-Griffiths was living with his grandparents before he died on 16 August 2021 from a catastrophic head injury. |
| Michael Ives, 47, and Kerry Ives, 46, both of Garden City, Flintshire, deny murder, causing or allowing the death of a child and child cruelty. | Michael Ives, 47, and Kerry Ives, 46, both of Garden City, Flintshire, deny murder, causing or allowing the death of a child and child cruelty. |
| Ethan's mother, Shannon Ives, 28, of Mold, has denied causing or allowing the death of a child and child cruelty. | Ethan's mother, Shannon Ives, 28, of Mold, has denied causing or allowing the death of a child and child cruelty. |
| Warning: This story contains distressing details | Warning: This story contains distressing details |
| On Monday, Mold Crown Court heard details of text messages sent by members of the Ives family to each other. | On Monday, Mold Crown Court heard details of text messages sent by members of the Ives family to each other. |
| In one message, Kerry Ives and her adult son discussed him moving out of her home because she lied about her tenancy. | In one message, Kerry Ives and her adult son discussed him moving out of her home because she lied about her tenancy. |
| Kerry Ives, 46, and Michael Ives, 47, are charged with the murder of their grandson Ethan | Kerry Ives, 46, and Michael Ives, 47, are charged with the murder of their grandson Ethan |
| In one message, Kerry Ives said: "The reason dad told you to get out was because you called us 'child beaters'." | In one message, Kerry Ives said: "The reason dad told you to get out was because you called us 'child beaters'." |
| Her son replied that by the time "you realise what you put all us kids through, it'll be too late". | Her son replied that by the time "you realise what you put all us kids through, it'll be too late". |
| His mother responded by saying: "What's he put you through? Nothing." | His mother responded by saying: "What's he put you through? Nothing." |
| She said he too would have issues if "you had parents like he did: Kicked out at a young age, going into a children's home, being hit every day". | She said he too would have issues if "you had parents like he did: Kicked out at a young age, going into a children's home, being hit every day". |
| Kerry Ives said she too was "hit every day by my mum and dad". | Kerry Ives said she too was "hit every day by my mum and dad". |
| The court was told Mr Ives sent a text to another of his adult children after Ethan moved in to live with the couple. | The court was told Mr Ives sent a text to another of his adult children after Ethan moved in to live with the couple. |
| It said when Ethan was being "naughty" he "needs to learn the hard way". | It said when Ethan was being "naughty" he "needs to learn the hard way". |
| Ethan's mother, Shannon Ives, is accused of causing or allowing the death of a child and child cruelty | Ethan's mother, Shannon Ives, is accused of causing or allowing the death of a child and child cruelty |
| By July 2021, Ethan was on the child protection register and the court heard details of repeated contact between Shannon Ives and social services. | By July 2021, Ethan was on the child protection register and the court heard details of repeated contact between Shannon Ives and social services. |
| In one text message, she asked: "I won't have the children taken from me, will I?" | In one text message, she asked: "I won't have the children taken from me, will I?" |
| The jury heard social workers and health visitors made frequent attempts to contact Shannon Ives and establish where she and Ethan were staying. | The jury heard social workers and health visitors made frequent attempts to contact Shannon Ives and establish where she and Ethan were staying. |
| Prosecutor Caroline Rees KC told the court earlier Ethan was "quiet and withdrawn, small and painfully thin", by the time of his death. | Prosecutor Caroline Rees KC told the court earlier Ethan was "quiet and withdrawn, small and painfully thin", by the time of his death. |
| The jury was played a series of CCTV clips, taken from security cameras installed in the Ives' front and rear garden. | The jury was played a series of CCTV clips, taken from security cameras installed in the Ives' front and rear garden. |
| On 4 August 2021 - the day he collapsed - Ethan was seen struggling to stand up on a trampoline as two older children bounced around him while his grandparents and mother looked on. | On 4 August 2021 - the day he collapsed - Ethan was seen struggling to stand up on a trampoline as two older children bounced around him while his grandparents and mother looked on. |
| In one video, Shannon Ives climbed on to the trampoline while Ethan was standing and jumped, causing him to fall back down. | In one video, Shannon Ives climbed on to the trampoline while Ethan was standing and jumped, causing him to fall back down. |
| Later, Michael Ives was seen picking Ethan up by one arm from the trampoline and carrying him back to the house. | Later, Michael Ives was seen picking Ethan up by one arm from the trampoline and carrying him back to the house. |
| A while later Ethan was back on the trampoline as Michael Ives appeared to make a gesture with his closed hand to an older child who then seemed to strike Ethan several times on his head. | A while later Ethan was back on the trampoline as Michael Ives appeared to make a gesture with his closed hand to an older child who then seemed to strike Ethan several times on his head. |
| Ethan was seen in one video having his hands placed on his head by Michael Ives as he sat on the trampoline. | Ethan was seen in one video having his hands placed on his head by Michael Ives as he sat on the trampoline. |
| He struggled to keep his hands in that position as he repeatedly tried to stay upright. | He struggled to keep his hands in that position as he repeatedly tried to stay upright. |
| In the two weeks before his death, the prosecution said Shannon Ives sent messages to a health visitor and social worker saying either she or Ethan were unwell, but CCTV footage on those days appeared to show them both leaving and returning to the house. | In the two weeks before his death, the prosecution said Shannon Ives sent messages to a health visitor and social worker saying either she or Ethan were unwell, but CCTV footage on those days appeared to show them both leaving and returning to the house. |
| Ethan was discovered "severely underweight, covered in bruises at his grandparents' house | Ethan was discovered "severely underweight, covered in bruises at his grandparents' house |
| The jury also heard a 13-minute 999 call made by Kerry Ives to the ambulance service on the evening of 14 August 2021, saying he had collapsed while watching television. | The jury also heard a 13-minute 999 call made by Kerry Ives to the ambulance service on the evening of 14 August 2021, saying he had collapsed while watching television. |
| "He fell to the floor, and his body has gone all limp," she said, adding that he was "gasping for breath". | "He fell to the floor, and his body has gone all limp," she said, adding that he was "gasping for breath". |
| Michael Ives left the house to get a local defibrillator and the call handler is heard instructing Kerry Ives to place Ethan on his back and to check his airway. | Michael Ives left the house to get a local defibrillator and the call handler is heard instructing Kerry Ives to place Ethan on his back and to check his airway. |
| Michael Ives returned and told the call handler Ethan had a similar episode the day before but had come around. | Michael Ives returned and told the call handler Ethan had a similar episode the day before but had come around. |
| Family members can be heard saying "come on, Ethan". They also said his condition had not changed, and that while he "appears to be" breathing he is still "unresponsive". | Family members can be heard saying "come on, Ethan". They also said his condition had not changed, and that while he "appears to be" breathing he is still "unresponsive". |
| Michael Ives is heard saying "he looks like he's asleep". | Michael Ives is heard saying "he looks like he's asleep". |
| The call ended when paramedics arrived at the house. | The call ended when paramedics arrived at the house. |
| As the recording was played in court, Michael Ives was sat with his head in his hand, while Shannon Ives wiped away tears. | As the recording was played in court, Michael Ives was sat with his head in his hand, while Shannon Ives wiped away tears. |
| Ethan collapsed on 14 August 2021 after a "forceful attack" by those who should have cared for him most, the jury was told. | |
| A post-mortem examination showed he weighed 22lb (10kg) and was 92cm (3ft) tall. | A post-mortem examination showed he weighed 22lb (10kg) and was 92cm (3ft) tall. |
| He had 40 different injuries on his body, including a swollen brain and numerous trauma injuries to his head and abdomen. | He had 40 different injuries on his body, including a swollen brain and numerous trauma injuries to his head and abdomen. |
| The court heard the pathologist concluded it was likely he had been the victim of non-accidental injuries and the cause of death was a head injury. | The court heard the pathologist concluded it was likely he had been the victim of non-accidental injuries and the cause of death was a head injury. |
| The defendants deny all the charges and the trial continues. | The defendants deny all the charges and the trial continues. |