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Mother guilty of toddler's murder Mother jailed for toddler murder
(40 minutes later)
A mother has been jailed for a minimum of 16 years after being convicted of murdering her 21-month-old son in south-east London. A mother has been jailed for life after she kicked and punched her 21-month-old son to death in south-east London.
Bobby Louch was found with about 80 bruises and injuries at his home in Bexleyheath, in December 2008. Bobby Louch was found with about 80 bruises and injuries at his home in Bexleyheath in December 2008.
Collette Harris, 30, had denied killing Bobby. Collette Harris denied the charges, blaming boyfriend James Phillips, who was cleared of all the charges against him.
At the Old Bailey, Harris's former boyfriend James Phillips, 25, from Erith, Kent, was acquitted on all counts. An Old Bailey judge said the 30-year-old would serve a minimum of 16 years after being found guilty of murder.
Harris had also previously denied an alternative charge of causing or allowing the toddler's death. Among the injuries, the toddler had two broken ribs, bleeding in the spine, massive damage to the brain and severe damage to his abdomen, including a damaged liver and pancreas.
Bobby had fatal damages to his brain and abdomen, the trial heard. Most of the injuries were inflicted in the 48 hours leading up to him being found dead in his cot on Monday 29 December 2008.
Most of the injuries were from the 48 hours leading up to his death on 29 December 2008. Burn mark
Bobby had been left alone with each adult over the weekend at the family home in Halcot Avenue, Bexleyheath.
He was kicked in the stomach on Saturday with such force that it damaged vital organs.He was kicked in the stomach on Saturday with such force that it damaged vital organs.
'Repeated violence' The day after, he was vomiting and looking disorientated.
The day after, he was sick and was vomiting and looking disorientated. He had a burn mark on his right hand which could have been made by it being placed on an oven door, the jury was told.
He had a burn mark on his right hand which could have been made by it being placed on an oven door, the court heard. However, despite Bobby's injuries, Harris refused to take him to hospital.
However, despite Bobby's injuries Harris refused to take him to hospital. She told a friend she would be suspected of abusing him, the jury heard.
She told a friend she would be suspected of abusing him, the court heard. This is a terrible thing you did for reasons which are quite incomprehensible Recorder of London Judge Peter Beaumont
Bobby has 40 injuries to his head and body In the early hours of the Monday morning, a neighbour said he heard a baby "whimpering" and murmuring "mummy".
In the early hours of Monday morning, a neighbour said he heard a baby "whimpering" and murmuring "Mummy".
Later, Harris rang for an ambulance, saying: "My baby won't wake up."Later, Harris rang for an ambulance, saying: "My baby won't wake up."
Among his injuries, the toddler had two broken ribs, bleeding in the spine, massive damage to the brain and severe injuries to the abdomen, including a damaged liver and pancreas.
He had been treated for a broken leg three weeks prior to his death and was kept in for a scan when bruises were seen on his forehead.He had been treated for a broken leg three weeks prior to his death and was kept in for a scan when bruises were seen on his forehead.
Harris blamed the bruises on Bobby being clumsy and banging his head on the cot. She later tried to blame her new boyfriend Mr Phillips, of Erith, in Kent.
Richard Whittam, QC, prosecuting, said: "There is compelling evidence that the multiple injuries were the result of deliberate and repeated violence."Richard Whittam, QC, prosecuting, said: "There is compelling evidence that the multiple injuries were the result of deliberate and repeated violence."
Harris screamed, "oh my God", and collapsed in tears as the jury found her guilty of murder.Harris screamed, "oh my God", and collapsed in tears as the jury found her guilty of murder.
Sentencing her, Recorder of London Judge Peter Beaumont said: "This is a terrible thing you did for reasons which are quite incomprehensible."
'Traumatic and devastating'
Bobby's father Dan Louch said later: "Bobby was our little angel and had his whole life to look forward to, but was so cruelly denied this for reasons we still can't fully comprehend.
"This can now bring to a close the traumatic and devastating quest to find some answers as to what happened to Bobby."
After the case, Andrew Flanagan, chief executive of the National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), said: "The level of brutality inflicted on this helpless infant is sickening.
"While governments change, child abuse does not. We need continuous high-level political leadership to protect children from such horrendous cruelty."