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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 described by police as a "monster" 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 after a five-month trial.
Her partner Luke Southerton, 32, of Hagley Road, Birmingham, was cleared of murder but convicted of one count of child cruelty. Det Ch Insp Caroline Marsh said it was one of the worst cases of child abuse she had seen.
Shuttleworth's partner Luke Southerton, 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.
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.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.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' 'Horrendous'
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 trial heard many of the injuries found on his body could have been inflicted up to 48 hours before the emergency call was made.
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: "It's extremely difficult to understand how someone could do that to their own child.
"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.""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.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.
"This is the worst case of child abuse I have ever seen."
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'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.
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".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".
She said: "Since the tragic death of Kiwi, we haven't been able to grieve or say goodbye to him properly.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.""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.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". Keanu was born in Torbay, and was brought to Birmingham in March 2010 when his mother moved back to the city and started a relationship with Southerton.
Police said he had "30 visible burns and injuries to his tiny body" and lived a "chaotic" and seemingly "very nomadic life".
Left to suffer
Wendy Bounds from West Midlands Crown Prosecution Service said Keanu was "ignored" despite evidence his mother "knew how to be a good parent".
She said: "Keanu sustained a series of increasingly serious, unexplained or inadequately explained injuries. For much of the time he had been left alone in a room to suffer in pain.
"There was no medical attention sought at any point from Friday night [of the weekend he died] until his mother noticed on Sunday afternoon he was not breathing."
Both defendants were on bail throughout their trial, which heard evidence from more than 70 witnesses.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.Shuttleworth was remanded in custody following the verdict, ahead of Tuesday's sentencing, while Southerton was again bailed.