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Daniel Pelka murder: Mother and partner to be sentenced Daniel Pelka murder: Mother and partner given life
(about 9 hours later)
A mother and her partner who subjected her son to an "absolutely wretched existence" before killing him are due to be sentenced later. The mother of Daniel Pelka and her partner have both been jailed for life.
Magdelena Luczak and Mariusz Krezolek, were convicted of four-year-old Daniel Pelka's murder on Wednesday. Magdelena Luczak, 27, and Mariusz Krezolek, 34, were convicted of four-year-old Daniel's murder at Birmingham Crown Court on Wednesday.
Daniel was beaten and starved by the pair and his emaciated body was likened by a doctor to a concentration camp victim, Birmingham Crown Court heard. Mrs Justice Cox said the sentence reflected the "incomprehensible brutality by both of you up to his death".
Luczak, 27, and Krezolek, 34, had denied murder and blamed each other. She ordered that both must serve a minimum term of 30 years in jail before being considered for parole.
During their nine-week trial, the defendants gave a different version of events about what happened to Daniel, who eventually died from a head injury. Luczak and Krezolek had denied murder and blamed each other.
'Poisoned with salt' Daniel died from a head injury in March 2012.
The court heard that injury was one of 30 he suffered in the run up to his murder, which West Midlands Police said was "pre-planned and premeditated". 'Designed to humiliate'
Jurors were also told how Daniel was left to die in his room - described as an unheated "cell" - for around 33 hours after suffering the head injury at his Coventry home, on 1 March last year. During the nine-week trial, jurors heard at the time of his death, Daniel weighed just over a stone and a half and had suffered a series of injuries.
Det Insp Chris Hanson said that before he died "[Daniel] was beaten, he was drowned and he was poisoned with salt - it was an absolutely wretched existence". The judge told Luczak and Krezolek they had "caused [Daniel] severe physical and mental suffering".
During the trial, the court heard how Krezolek and Luczak, who came to the UK from Poland in 2006, hid the horrifying abuse by claiming Daniel had an eating disorder. Mrs Justice Cox said Daniel's punishments were "designed to humiliate" and that he was "a victim of chronic and systematic starvation".
However, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said starving Daniel had been forced to steal food from fellow pupils and from school dustbins. The judge said the two had killed Daniel in a "campaign of cruelty".
At time of death, he weighed just 1st 7lb (10.7kg) and had been reduced to the point of "skeletal emaciation". "Complicity in ill treatment started with a broken arm when he was just three and a half.
Despite blaming each other, text messages between Krezolek and Luczak proved they worked as a team. "What was handed out to Daniel was incomprehensible brutality by both of you," she told the pair.
Serious case review 'Minimal mitigation'
One text from Krezolek encouraged Luczak to lock Daniel in his box room. Another, from Luczak, said she had nearly drowned him. He was also subjected to cold water punishment.
Krezolek, a factory worker, and Luczak were both drinking heavily and taking drugs, at the time of the abuse. "We will never know exactly what form it took because you have not explained it - he must have been absolutely terrified," Mrs Justice Cox said.
The judge said the level of culpability of Luczak and Krezolek was "extremely high" and that there was "minimal mitigation in this case".
Stephen Linnehan, representing Luczak, told the court she had come to "this country in search of a better life" and "has now lost everything".
Krezolek's barrister told the court he did not have the intention to kill and was "deeply ashamed" of his conduct [towards Daniel].
Daniel's death is the subject of a serious case review by Coventry's Safeguarding Children Board and a report is due to be published in the next six weeks.Daniel's death is the subject of a serious case review by Coventry's Safeguarding Children Board and a report is due to be published in the next six weeks.
The review will look at why police and social services did not get involved after staff at Daniel's school - Coventry Little Heath Primary School - noticed bruising on his neck and what appeared to be two black eyes. The review will look at what was done by police and social services after staff at Daniel's school - Coventry Little Heath Primary School - noticed bruising on his neck and what appeared to be two black eyes.
Krezolek had denied murder and causing or allowing Daniel's death. Speaking to BBC News, Amy Weir, the independent chair of the board said: "Clearly there were failings in Daniel's case and the serious case review is looking at why systems that are in place were not used."
Luczak denied murder but had admitted through her counsel that she was guilty of causing or allowing her son's death. Senior crown prosecutor, Lisa Windridge, said after the sentencing that it had been a "very difficult case".
"We hope that the sentence today brings closure to this case to the family of Daniel both in this country and in Poland.
"This has been a very difficult case for all of those involved with it and we are pleased that justice has finally been achieved for Daniel Pelka."