Man jailed for snaping his daughters spine.
Discussion
A father who murdered his 16-month-old daughter by snapping her spine has been jailed for life.
James Howson: Cruelly and deliberately assaulted baby Amy, the judge said
James Howson, 25, was told he must serve at least 22 years.
He had been found guilty of murdering his daughter Amy earlier this week after a trial at Leeds Crown Court.
Amy's mother, Tina Hunt, 26, was given a 12-month suspended sentence for allowing the death of a child and child cruelty. She admitted the charges.
Sentencing Howson, the judge, Mrs Justice Cox, recounted how the defendant placed his daughter over his knee or other object and broke her back at their home while he was looking after her.
He then sat with her body until the morning.
The judge said: "This was, in my view, a chilling and brutal attack. The bone was completely dislocated, resulting in spinal shock, rapid unconsciousness - mercifully - and to death."
The catalogue of horrific injuries have been some of the worst I have seen in
30 years of policing.
Detective Superintendent Carl Sturgess, who led the investigation
The judge also detailed the other occasions in the weeks leading up to the murder in December last year when Howson "cruelly and deliberately assaulted Amy", leaving her with multiple fractures to her arms and legs.
Howson showed no emotion as he was led from the dock.
The judge said to him: "I have not seen the slightest evidence of remorse from you for what you did."
The court had heard that the youngster, who was malnourished and dehydrated, had also been slapped and punched in the months leading up to her death.
Howson had a troubled history and had been violent towards women when he was young. Yet he had no previous convictions.
Adrian Waterman QC, defending, described how when Howson was expelled from school as a teenager, a teacher noted in a report: "This boy will commit a murder before too long. I've never seen a such a disturbed young man."
The jury was told Howson was looking after the little girl last December because her mother had morning sickness.
At the time of Amy's death, Hunt was 12 weeks pregnant. Howson said it was possible his partner might have been responsible.
The court heard that in the months before Amy died, health visitors had twice gone to the family's home but her parents had refused to let them in.
Doncaster Primary Care Trust will now have an independent review to find out what happened.
Amy's maternal grandfather, Colin, said the sentence is not enough.
"He could be locked up for 30 or 40 years but he is living. She is dead. It's all wrong.
"It makes you wonder what makes people do that, You think you know them but you don't."
Outside court, Detective Superintendent Carl Sturgess, who led the investigation, said: "This has been a most wicked and evil murder of an innocent child.
"The catalogue of horrific injuries have been some of the worst I have seen in
30 years of policing."
An absolute
, how could anyone do that?? 22 years, he should never be let out.
James Howson: Cruelly and deliberately assaulted baby Amy, the judge said
James Howson, 25, was told he must serve at least 22 years.
He had been found guilty of murdering his daughter Amy earlier this week after a trial at Leeds Crown Court.
Amy's mother, Tina Hunt, 26, was given a 12-month suspended sentence for allowing the death of a child and child cruelty. She admitted the charges.
Sentencing Howson, the judge, Mrs Justice Cox, recounted how the defendant placed his daughter over his knee or other object and broke her back at their home while he was looking after her.
He then sat with her body until the morning.
The judge said: "This was, in my view, a chilling and brutal attack. The bone was completely dislocated, resulting in spinal shock, rapid unconsciousness - mercifully - and to death."
The catalogue of horrific injuries have been some of the worst I have seen in
30 years of policing.
Detective Superintendent Carl Sturgess, who led the investigation
The judge also detailed the other occasions in the weeks leading up to the murder in December last year when Howson "cruelly and deliberately assaulted Amy", leaving her with multiple fractures to her arms and legs.
Howson showed no emotion as he was led from the dock.
The judge said to him: "I have not seen the slightest evidence of remorse from you for what you did."
The court had heard that the youngster, who was malnourished and dehydrated, had also been slapped and punched in the months leading up to her death.
Howson had a troubled history and had been violent towards women when he was young. Yet he had no previous convictions.
Adrian Waterman QC, defending, described how when Howson was expelled from school as a teenager, a teacher noted in a report: "This boy will commit a murder before too long. I've never seen a such a disturbed young man."
The jury was told Howson was looking after the little girl last December because her mother had morning sickness.
At the time of Amy's death, Hunt was 12 weeks pregnant. Howson said it was possible his partner might have been responsible.
The court heard that in the months before Amy died, health visitors had twice gone to the family's home but her parents had refused to let them in.
Doncaster Primary Care Trust will now have an independent review to find out what happened.
Amy's maternal grandfather, Colin, said the sentence is not enough.
"He could be locked up for 30 or 40 years but he is living. She is dead. It's all wrong.
"It makes you wonder what makes people do that, You think you know them but you don't."
Outside court, Detective Superintendent Carl Sturgess, who led the investigation, said: "This has been a most wicked and evil murder of an innocent child.
"The catalogue of horrific injuries have been some of the worst I have seen in
30 years of policing."
An absolute
, how could anyone do that?? 22 years, he should never be let out.
Iain H said:
Amy's mother, Tina Hunt, 26, was given a 12-month suspended sentence for allowing the death of a child and child cruelty. She admitted the charges.
WHAT THE fk? SUSPENDED SENTENCE FOR THIS fkING we WHO SHOULD BE GANGRAPED BY JACKHAMMERS FOR WHAT SHE DID?Am I reasonable in being so outraged over this that I nearly threw a chair across my office?
MrVelox said:
Iain H said:
Amy's mother, Tina Hunt, 26, was given a 12-month suspended sentence for allowing the death of a child and child cruelty. She admitted the charges.
WHAT THE fk? SUSPENDED SENTENCE FOR THIS fkING we WHO SHOULD BE GANGRAPED BY JACKHAMMERS FOR WHAT SHE DID?Am I reasonable in being so outraged over this that I nearly threw a chair across my office?
king outrageous.
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