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| Mother jailed for toddler murder | Mother jailed for toddler murder |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A mother has been jailed for life after she kicked and punched her 21-month-old son to death 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 denied the charges, blaming boyfriend James Phillips, who was cleared of all the charges against him. | Collette Harris denied the charges, blaming boyfriend James Phillips, who was cleared of all the charges against him. |
| An Old Bailey judge said the 30-year-old would serve a minimum of 16 years after being found guilty of murder. | An Old Bailey judge said the 30-year-old would serve a minimum of 16 years after being found guilty of murder. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 inflicted in the 48 hours leading up to him being found dead in his cot on Monday 29 December 2008. |
| Bobby's father seeks closure | |
| 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. |
| The day after, he was vomiting and looking disorientated. | The day after, he 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 jury was told. |
| 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 jury heard. |
| In the early hours of the Monday morning, a neighbour said he heard a baby "whimpering" and murmuring "mummy". | In the early hours of the Monday morning, a neighbour said he heard a baby "whimpering" and murmuring "mummy". |
| This is a terrible thing you did for reasons which are quite incomprehensible Recorder of London Judge Peter Beaumont | |
| 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." |
| 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. | 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." | 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' | 'Traumatic and devastating' |
| Bobby's father Dan Louch, who separated from Harris in October 2008, 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." | "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. | 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." | "While governments change, child abuse does not. We need continuous high-level political leadership to protect children from such horrendous cruelty." |