Mum and dad convicted of brutal killing of their baby

A cannabis-smoking mother and father have been convicted of the "savage and brutal" Christmas Day murder of their baby son, after burning and beating him "in repeated acts of severe violence" in the days before his death.

Stephen Boden, 30, and Shannon Marsden, 22, were convicted after a five-week trial at Derby Crown Court on Friday, after the death of Finley Boden in the winter 2020 Covid lockdown 39 days after he was placed back into their care.

Prosecutor Mary Prior KC described how 10-month-old Finley had suffered a catalogue of "appalling" injuries, including 71 bruises over his body and 57 fractures, many inflicted in the short period before his fatal collapse.

Only hours after his son's death, Boden was heard telling Marsden at hospital that he was going to sell Finley's pushchair on eBay.