UK parents convicted of killing their 10-month-old son in a “savage and brutal” campaign of abuse have been sentenced to life in prison for his murder.
Shannon Marsden and Stephen Boden will serve a minimum of 27 years and 29 years respectively after being found guilty of the murder of Finley Boden, who died on Christmas Day 2020. The couple were tried and convicted at Derby Crown Court, where a judge described the gruesome details of Finley’s torture at his hands.
During sentencing, Judge Amanda Tipples called the pair “persuasive and talented liars” who hid their son’s abuse from authorities, leading to his death, according to The Independent.
“The pair, who showed no emotion upon being sentenced, lied to social workers, claiming he had COVID to prevent them from seeing him, before killing their son on Christmas Day 2020 – the culmination of what prosecutors said be a ‘savage and brutal’ campaign of abuse,” reported the outlet.
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Stephen Boden (left) and Shannon Marsden were sentenced to life in prison for the murder of their 10-month-old son, Finley Boden. (Derbyshire/PA Police)
Prosecutors reportedly told the court that Finley had been taken away from the couple at birth due to habitual drug use, but they lied about being drug free to regain custody of their child in November of that year.
In the custody of his parents, Finley suffered. The boy had 130 separate injuries when he died, including 71 bruises, 57 bone breaks and fractures, and burns. He also had sepsis and endocarditis, an infection in the lining of the heart, which proved fatal, The Independent reported. The judge said medical intervention could have saved Finley’s life, but his parents refused to seek help because they knew he would be taken from them.
Marsden and Boden reportedly showed no emotion when Tipples read their sentence.
“Finley was an adorable baby. He was happy, smiling and laughing,” the judge said in court.
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Finley Boden, 10 months old, had 130 separate injuries when he died, including 71 bruises, 57 bone fractures, fractures and burns. (Derbyshire/PA Police)
“The facts regarding the last days of Finley’s life are terrible to describe and extremely distressing,” she told her parents. “You both knew Finley was seriously ill and dying…but you deliberately failed to seek any medical help for him, and you made sure he wasn’t seen by anyone who could rescue him and take him out of your care.” .
“He was subjected to repeated abuse on several occasions. After the wounds were inflicted, Finley’s daily experience was one of considerable pain, anguish and suffering.
“It was obvious to both of you on December 16th that Finley was seriously injured and was downright miserable.
“He couldn’t sit and play with his toys anymore. He couldn’t feed himself.”
She added, “On the night of December 23rd, he was clearly dying. There was nothing subtle about it. It was clearly obvious to both of you.”
When Finley’s parents finally sought medical help, it was too late. The judge said the pair lied to doctors at their home about the cause of Finley’s injuries, including 46 rib fractures and 12 other bone fractures.
Those injuries were the result of “considerable force” and indicated that the boy was unable to breathe properly, which caused the infection, Tipples said.
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Derbyshire Police said 10-month-old Finley Boden was murdered by his parents at their home in Chesterfield on Christmas Day 2020. The parents received a combined sentence of 56 years in prison. (Derbyshire/PA Police)
Prosecutors presented photographic evidence at trial showing a house cluttered with cannabis paraphernalia alongside expired infant formula and children’s clothing stained with blood and feces, The Independent reported.
The filthy condition of the house was discovered by a social worker who paid an unannounced visit days before Finley’s death. Boden lied and told the social worker that Finley had COVID to cover up the abuse, the judge said.
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“I’m pretty sure Finley’s injuries were inflicted in your home,” Tipples told the parents, suggesting that one of them put a hand over the baby’s mouth to prevent his screams from being heard by neighbors.
A statement from a relative of one of the defendants, read by prosecutors, said Finley suffered “the most horrific abuse” and called his parents “monsters”.
After the sentence was handed down, a spokesperson for UK Child Protective Services said: “The cruelty and abuse inflicted on Finley which led to his tragic death was appalling and heartbreaking.
“The death of a child in such brutal circumstances leaves many of us asking questions and we hope that the Child Protection Practice Review will set out exactly what happened and all the ways in which Finley could have been better protected, in order to help prevent future tragedies.
