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Keanu Williams case: Mother guilty of murdering toddler Keanu Williams case: Mother guilty of murdering toddler
(about 1 hour later)
A mother has been found guilty of murdering her two-year-old son.A mother has been found guilty of murdering her two-year-old son.
Keanu Williams died in January 2011 after being found with 37 injuries including a fractured skull and torn abdomen in Ward End, Birmingham.Keanu Williams died in January 2011 after being found with 37 injuries including a fractured skull and torn abdomen in Ward End, Birmingham.
Rebecca Shuttleworth, 25, of Cottingham Road, Manchester, was convicted by a jury at Birmingham Crown Court.Rebecca Shuttleworth, 25, of Cottingham Road, Manchester, was convicted by a jury at Birmingham Crown Court.
Her partner Luke Southerton, 32, of Hagley Road, Birmingham, was cleared of murder but convicted of one count of child cruelty.Her partner Luke Southerton, 32, of Hagley Road, Birmingham, was cleared of murder but convicted of one count of child cruelty.
Shuttleworth, formerly of Hay Mills, Birmingham, was also convicted of four counts of child cruelty.Shuttleworth, formerly of Hay Mills, Birmingham, was also convicted of four counts of child cruelty.
The pair, who had both denied the charges, will be sentenced on Tuesday.The pair, who had both denied the charges, will be sentenced on Tuesday.
An inquiry has started into the role all agencies that came into contact with Keanu and his family, including social workers and the police, played before his death. A serious case review has started into the role all agencies that came into contact with Keanu and his family, including social workers and the police, played before his death.
Police said that Keanu, who was moved around England by his mother, may have "slipped through the net" by not staying in one local authority area for long.
'A monster'
During the trial, the jury heard Southerton called 999 from his flat at about 19:40 on 9 January and emergency crews arrived to find Keanu, also known as Kiwi, collapsed on a sofa.During the trial, the jury heard Southerton called 999 from his flat at about 19:40 on 9 January and emergency crews arrived to find Keanu, also known as Kiwi, collapsed on a sofa.
The toddler was confirmed dead later that day.The toddler was confirmed dead later that day.
The six-month trial heard many of the injuries found on his body could have been inflicted up to 48 hours before the emergency call was made.The six-month trial heard many of the injuries found on his body could have been inflicted up to 48 hours before the emergency call was made.
'Suffered terribly' Outside court, Det Ch Insp Caroline Marsh said: "It's extremely difficult to understand how someone could do that to their own child.
Outside court, Det Ch Insp Caroline Marsh said: "I don't like to imagine the kind of death this little boy suffered because it clearly was horrendous. "Rebecca Shuttleworth is clearly somebody who is not like a normal member of society. In the past, I have described her as a monster and perhaps I would stand by that."
She added: "I don't like to imagine the kind of death this little boy suffered because it clearly was horrendous.
"He did suffer terribly at the hands of his mother who should have loved him unconditionally and clearly she did that to him.""He did suffer terribly at the hands of his mother who should have loved him unconditionally and clearly she did that to him."
At the start of the trial, prosecutor Christopher Hotten QC told the jury Keanu's injuries had not been an "isolated event" but had been the culmination of a long period of ill-treatment.At the start of the trial, prosecutor Christopher Hotten QC told the jury Keanu's injuries had not been an "isolated event" but had been the culmination of a long period of ill-treatment.
He said the fact Shuttleworth had not sought help for Keanu "until it was too late" proved she knew his injuries were "incapable of sensible explanation".He said the fact Shuttleworth had not sought help for Keanu "until it was too late" proved she knew his injuries were "incapable of sensible explanation".
Family 'torn apart'
A post-mortem examination found there had been bruising to the boy's body consistent with him having been struck with an object such as a stick or rod with some force.A post-mortem examination found there had been bruising to the boy's body consistent with him having been struck with an object such as a stick or rod with some force.
A fist-sized tear was also found in part of Keanu's abdomen, which had caused substantial bleeding, the court heard.A fist-sized tear was also found in part of Keanu's abdomen, which had caused substantial bleeding, the court heard.
Keanu's grandfather Richard Lampett told the trial he had seen bruises and bite marks on the boy's body. In a statement, after the verdicts were announced, Keanu's aunt Angela Shuttleworth, 26, said his death had "torn the family apart" and left a "gaping hole".
He said he had taken photographs of bruising to Keanu's face in December 2009, more than a year before his death. She said: "Since the tragic death of Kiwi, we haven't been able to grieve or say goodbye to him properly.
"We hope now this is over we can lay Kiwi to rest and begin to have some closure."
Police said Keanu had lived in several places in the last six months of his life with his mother, including with his aunt, his grandfather and Southerton.
They said he had "30 visible burns and injuries to his tiny body" and lived a "chaotic" and seemingly "very nomadic life".
Both defendants were on bail throughout their trial, which heard evidence from more than 70 witnesses.
Shuttleworth was remanded in custody following the verdict, ahead of Tuesday's sentencing, while Southerton was again bailed.