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14th April 2023
02:20pm BST
The parents of a 10-month-old baby who died with more than 130 injuries have been found guilty of his death.
Stephen Boden, 29, and Shannon Marsden, 21, were arrested in December last year after baby Finley was found in Old Whittington, Derbyshire, on Christmas Day, 2020 - just 39 days after being returned from care.
He had over 130 injuries, including “multiple fractures and burns” and had sepsis and pneumonia.
Paramedics had been called to the address at 2.33am after Finlay suffered a cardiac arrest at the property.
He was taken to hospital, but despite medics' best efforts he was pronounced dead at 3.45am. His cause of death was given as multiple episodes of non-accidental blunt force trauma.
Boden and Marsden were accused of failing to seek medical attention for baby Finley Boden and “wilfully” assaulting the child.
In February last year, they had both denied charges of murder, manslaughter and causing or allowing the death of a child.
But following a five-week trial, a jury at Derby Crown Court found them both guilty of murder.
It took the jury just over a week to reach a verdict.
The BBC reports that Judge Mrs Justice Tipples held back tears as she thanked the jury for their "extremely impressive" conduct throughout the trial.
As she spoke, at least four jury members were in tears.
The trial heard how a catalogue of errors led to Finlay's death, with prosecutor Mary Prior KC describing how the baby had suffered "appalling" injuries.
He had suffered 71 bruises over his body and 57 fractures, many inflicted in the short period before his fatal collapse.
The court heard that the injuries included breaks to his collarbone, shoulder, shin, thigh bones, pelvis and ribs in the days leading to his death, ITV News reports.
The collarbone break was suspected to have been caused by "kicking or stamping," whilst two burns on Finlay's hand appeared to have been caused by a "hot, flat surface" and a "cigarette lighter flame."
Just hours after his death, Boden was heard telling Marsden in hospital he planned to sell their son's pushchair on eBay. He told police he had only said this in an effort to "lighten the mood."
Later, Marsden visiting Finley's body in a hospital chapel of rest on 11 January 2021, and said: "His dad's battered him to death. I didn't protect him."
Child protection concerns meant that Finlay had been removed from his parents care shortly after being born at the start of 2020.
But he was returned to the couple's care over eight weeks by a court order in October 2020, despite social workers recommending a six-month transition.
A child safeguarding review into the circumstances surrounding Finley's death is currently underway.
Marsden and Boden will be sentenced at a later date.
Detective Inspector Stephen Shaw, who led the investigation into Finley’s death, said: “Finley Boden died in what should have been the safest place in the world for him – his own home.
“He was much loved by his wider family and, during his short life, knew a great many happy times with them.
“That was until he was in the care of Stephen Boden and Shannon Marsden.
“As a parent you have no greater responsibility than to a child that is in your care but Boden and Marsden could not even bring themselves to take Finley to hospital when it was absolutely clear that he was critically ill.
“They have never given a reasonable explanation as to why they did not do this, but it appears to be abundantly clear that their primary concern was their own freedom – and not the life of Finley.
“The injuries that were inflicted upon Finley were among the worst I have seen during my career in policing and, as a father, it is inconceivable to me how any parent could cause such devastating injuries to a child.
“I would like to thank all of the staff and investigators within both the police and the CPS who have been involved in securing justice for Finley. The impact on everyone who has had any involvement in this case has been huge.
“I hope that today’s verdict brings a form of closure for all those involved – in particular Finley’s family to whom I offer my own, and the wider force’s, continued condolences.
“No verdict or jail sentence will bring Finley back, however, we now know the truth of what happened to him, and justice has been delivered.”
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