Coventry Crown Court found Carla Scott and her partner, Dirk Howell, guilty of killing nine-year-old son Alfie Steele. The minor victim was found dead in February 2021.
A woman and her partner have been found guilty of killing her nine-year-old son in the bath after months of abuse. Alfie Steele was found unresponsive at his home in Droitwich, Worcestershire, in February 2021.
Dirk Howell, 41, was found guilty of murdering the young boy and his mother, Carla Scott, was convicted of his manslaughter, reported BBC.
After weeks of hearing horrific details of Alfie's final months, the jury deliberated for 10 hours over the verdicts. The nine-year-old boy was subjected to a cruel discipline regime and had more than 50 injuries on his body when he died. His punishments included beatings, being forced to stand outside and being dunked head first in cold baths, Coventry Crown Court heard.
The exact cause of death could not be ascertained. The evidence strongly suggested he died after being dunked in the freezing cold water.
According to BBC, the family was known to social services. Neighbours made repeated calls to police after hearing screaming and crying coming from both inside and outside the family home.
Visibly distressed, Alfie's grandfather Paul Scott read a family statement to reporters outside court and said, "It fills us with immense sadness that we will never be able to see that same cheeky smile again."
"Losing Alfie has left a massive void in our lives. To think that we will never be able to hug him and watch him grow into an accomplished young man causes us such anguish. We miss him so much,” Scott was quoted by BBC as saying.
On February 18, emergency services arrived at the home but paramedics were unable to revive him. Carla, Alfie’s mother, claimed her son had fallen asleep while enjoying a warm bath. However, his injuries and low body temperature indicated a different story.
The trial heard Carla came into a relationship with Howell in 2019 and his discipline regime quickly escalated during 2020, when the country went into lockdown during the Covid pandemic.
Some neighbours heard him screaming as he was forced into the cold baths and others reported seeing him standing in the garden at night "like a statue" while being berated by Howell.
He had admitted four counts of child cruelty, but Carla repeatedly maintained her innocence. However, the jury convicted her of child cruelty.
As per the police, Alfie’s mother prioritised her own needs and relationship with Howell, knowing the cruel treatment he was inflicting on her son.
Comments