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| Man sentenced for 1985 baby death | Man sentenced for 1985 baby death |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A 51-year-old man found guilty of smothering his six-week-old baby to death 25 years ago has been sentenced to 14 years in prison. | A 51-year-old man found guilty of smothering his six-week-old baby to death 25 years ago has been sentenced to 14 years in prison. |
| David Riches was convicted of manslaughter at Norwich Crown Court in April. He was also found guilty of assaults on women and children. | David Riches was convicted of manslaughter at Norwich Crown Court in April. He was also found guilty of assaults on women and children. |
| The death of daughter Melanin came to light in 2007 after Riches was reunited with his son Micah. | The death of daughter Melanin came to light in 2007 after Riches was reunited with his son Micah. |
| He confessed to the killing in a text message and Micah informed the police. | |
| The court heard that Riches, who lived in Norwich but now has a home in Pezens in France, killed his daughter by pushing her face down into the upholstery on the sofa of their family home on 3 July 1985. | The court heard that Riches, who lived in Norwich but now has a home in Pezens in France, killed his daughter by pushing her face down into the upholstery on the sofa of their family home on 3 July 1985. |
| 'Violent and unpleasant' | 'Violent and unpleasant' |
| Riches had denied killing her but was found guilty of manslaughter by a majority verdict of 10 to one. | Riches had denied killing her but was found guilty of manslaughter by a majority verdict of 10 to one. |
| The judge at Norwich Crown Court said it had been a "cruel and deliberate act by a man with totally changeable personality whose behaviour over the the last quarter of a century had been violent and unpleasant in the extreme". | The judge at Norwich Crown Court said it had been a "cruel and deliberate act by a man with totally changeable personality whose behaviour over the the last quarter of a century had been violent and unpleasant in the extreme". |
| During Riches' trial in April, the court heard that a post-mortem examination in 1985 concluded sudden infant death syndrome. | During Riches' trial in April, the court heard that a post-mortem examination in 1985 concluded sudden infant death syndrome. |
| The court heard how after conversations about Melanin's death, Micah, now 21, sent Riches a text message asking exactly what had happened the day his sister died. | The court heard how after conversations about Melanin's death, Micah, now 21, sent Riches a text message asking exactly what had happened the day his sister died. |
| Riches replied saying that he picked Melanin up after she started crying. When she would not stop he put her face between the arm and the seat of the sofa. | Riches replied saying that he picked Melanin up after she started crying. When she would not stop he put her face between the arm and the seat of the sofa. |
| Earlier in the trial, Judge Peter Jacobs had recorded a verdict of not guilty on a murder charge Riches faced because of insufficient evidence. | Earlier in the trial, Judge Peter Jacobs had recorded a verdict of not guilty on a murder charge Riches faced because of insufficient evidence. |
| As well as manslaughter, Riches was also convicted of four counts of child cruelty and six assaults on a number of women and children. | As well as manslaughter, Riches was also convicted of four counts of child cruelty and six assaults on a number of women and children. |