A couple has been jailed for beating and burning their 10-month-old son to death on Christmas Day after almost every bone in his body was found broken.
The case, which the detective in charge described as the “worst” he has seen in his three-decade-long career, comes after Stephen Bowden and Shannon Marsden murdered their young son in 2020.
The couple was found to have caused young Finley Bowden more than 130 injuries that led to his death, having returned to their care only a month earlier.
During his trial at Derby Crown Court, the court heard how the child suffered “significant, substantial, and repeated acts of serious violence.”
Before his death, Finley suffered 71 injuries, including two burns—one caused by a cigarette lighter— and 57 fractures.
Many of the injuries are believed to have come from “kicking” and “stamping” on Finlay by Bowden, 30, and Marsden, 22.
Judge Mrs Justice Tipples described to the court how the couple subjected their son to “unimaginable cruelty”.
He added, “Once the injuries were sustained, Finlay’s daily experience was one of considerable pain, distress and suffering.”
“No one heard Finley cry or scream in pain as you worked together to inflict injuries on him, with one of you breaking his bone and the other putting a hand over his mouth to silence him.”
the couple decided to ignore their baby
In another shocking twist, when it became clear that Finley was dying, the couple decided to ignore their baby and not take him to the hospital.
Finlay was found unresponsive by police at his family home in Old Whittington, Chesterfield, at 2.47am on Christmas Day, after the 10-month-old had every bone in his body broken due to repeated abuse over several weeks.
In a rambling and disturbing statement, the court heard that just hours after learning of Finlay’s death, Bowden joked about putting the child’s pushchair on eBay.
In a disgusted statement later investigated by police, Bowden claimed he was “trying to lighten the mood.”
The court also heard how Bowden would prioritise drug use rather than caring for her son; she even told her drug dealer that she wanted to “bounce him off the walls” just two days before her death.
At trial, the two pleaded not guilty, and after five months in court, jurors ultimately convicted them on all counts of murder and child cruelty.
The judge then sentenced the pair to life imprisonment, where Bowden would have to serve a minimum of 29 years, while Marsden would have to serve a minimum of 27 years.
Detective Inspector Paul Bullock of Derbyshire Police said the case was one of the worst in his almost three-decade-long career.
Prosecutor Mary Pryor Casey said that for nine months of his life, Finley was a “fit and happy” young boy; however, things changed when, during Covid,
The parents requested custody, and a family court ruled that she should be returned to her parents within eight weeks.
Following the conclusion of the trial, Derbyshire County Council expressed its “heartfelt sympathies” to those who knew and loved Finlay.
The Department of Children’s Services also acknowledged that they had “missed opportunities.”
Carol Cammis, executive director of children’s services, said, “Finley’s death was a tragedy for everyone who knew him and for everyone involved in his care.
“Despite the significant Covid restrictions imposed on our work at the time, we know that opportunities for strong practice were missed, and we apologise for this.
“We did not wait for the outcome of this review – we took immediate action to review and strengthen our systems and continue to monitor the way we work with babies and families.”
