12:20pm Tuesday 11th November 2008
By Charlotte Gray
Two men have been found guilty of causing the death of a 17-month-old baby boy in Haringey.
The child, known only as Baby P, died on August 3 2007 with a "catalogue of injuries" which included a broken back, fractured ribs and missing tooth.
Baby P was on Haringey Council's Child Protection Register at the time of his death.
Today a jury at the Old Bailey found the mother's 32-year-old live-in boyfriend, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and their lodger Jason Owen, 36, from Bromley in South East London, guilty of causing or allowing the death of Baby P.
Both men have been found not guilty of the child's murder. His mother previously pleaded guilty to allowing the death of her child and is awaiting sentencing.
During the trial, the pathologist who performed Baby P's autopsy, professor Rupert Risden told the jury there was “no natural explanation” for the severe injuries which led to his death.
He said the baby’s broken back was so severe that it had “opened like a hinge”.
He added: "This was the result of a forceful extension, indicating the likelihood the child’s body had been put over a banister or a knee. This happened at least some days before the child’s death.”
He added damage like this would have left the child paralysed and unable to empty his bladder.
He said: “I’ve never personally seen an injury of this nature. This is the sort of thing that might occur in a road traffic accident.”
The baby's frenulum - a part of the mouth - was also torn, he had a missing tooth which was found in his stomach and old fractures were found to his ribs and right leg.
The mother’s lover and their lodger then took part in a clean-up operation to get rid of the toddler’s blood-stained clothes, the prosecution said.
CCTV footage recovered by police showed the mother’s boyfriend carrying a black bag with the dirty baby clothes to Tottenham Cemetery.
A blood-soaked baby bib was also found behind Baby P’s cot and another bag of clothes covered in his blood was found in the kitchen.
Prosecuting lawyer, QC Sally O’Neill, said: “The spotlight turns entirely on [the boyfriend] as the person who carried out these acts.
"We submit that Baby P was unlawfully killed and that the two defendants were involved in an immediate clean-up as soon as Baby P had gone from the premises and before the 999 call was made as far as his clothing was concerned.”
She added the 36-year-old cleaner from Bromley did not protect the child because he was more worried about his relationship with his 15-year-old girlfriend.
She said: “The truth is it probably did not suit his personal position because of [her]. That’s not an excuse; it’s not a defence.”
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