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Grandparents Repeatedly Assaulted Toddler Before Fatal Head Injuries, Jury Hears

Prosecutors introduced paediatric neurosurgeon testimony of a mixture of old, fresh brain bleeds following a nearly 20-minute delay in calling emergency services.

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Overview

  • Michael and Kerry Ives, 47 and 46, and their daughter Shannon, 28, deny charges of murder, child cruelty, and causing or allowing the death of two-year-old Ethan Ives-Griffiths.
  • A post-mortem revealed 40 injuries on Ethan’s body, including a swollen brain, extensive bruising, and trauma to his head and abdomen, along with signs of severe malnourishment.
  • Prosecutors allege the grandparents formed a pact of silence to conceal their actions and shifted blame onto Shannon, who was reportedly upstairs on her phone when the fatal injury occurred.
  • Dr Jayaratnam Jayamohan told the court that CT scans showed a mixture of old, fresh brain bleeds consistent with repeated assaults, indicating multiple episodes of violence.
  • Jurors heard that Kerry Ives delayed contacting emergency services by nearly 20 minutes after Ethan collapsed before eventually calling 999.