Suspect detained for toddler murder
There have been two recent cases involving the death of very young children. In Eccles, a 16 year old boy has been convicted of killing a toddler, whom he was babsitting. He was sentenced to 15 years. In Runcorn, a man was convicted of causing the death of his partner’s two year old son.
There have been a series of high profile reports on the death of children at the hands of relatives or friends. The most well known are:-
- Jasmine Beckford, London Borough of Brent and Brent Health Authority, published December 1985
- Kimberley Carlile, London Borough of Greenwich and Greenwich Health Authority, published December 1987
- Tyra Henry – London Borough of Lambeth, published 1987
- The Victoria Climbié Inquiry – Report of an Inquiry by Lord Laming – January 2003 – www.victoria-climbie-inquiry.org.uk.
In March of this year, Lord Laming published his “Progress Report.” This is the government’s response to the shocking case of Baby P, as a result of which three people were convicted and sentenced to prison. The government responded to the death of Baby P by announcing a national child protection review by Lord Laming. The local authority in Baby P’s case, Haringey, was the very same council that found itself at the centre of another child abuse scandal in 2000, after the death of Victoria Climbie.
