Finley Boden: Calls for 'transformation' of child protection system following 'brutal' murder
The NSPCC said there are many unanswered questions about how the 10-month-old was allowed back into his parents' care.
Last updated 15th Apr 2023
There are calls for the 'transformation' of the child protection system following the "savage and brutal" Christmas Day murder of a 10-month-old baby in Derbyshire.
Stephen Boden, 30, and Shannon Marsden, 22, were convicted after a five-month trial of killing Finley Boden in the winter 2020 Covid lockdown - 39 days after he was placed back into their care.
At trial Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described how Finley suffered a catalogue of dreadful injuries, including 71 bruises, some up to two weeks old, over his body and 57 fractures, many inflicted in the short period before his fatal collapse.
Child protection concerns meant Finley was removed from his parents' care shortly after being born in February 2020.
Just weeks after the baby was back living with the couple, a social worker looked through the window to see Finley "lying on the sofa, by himself", however the youngster remained in his parents' care.
Derbyshire County Council, whose social services team had contact with Finley prior to his abuse and death, said it was working with the independent Derby and Derbyshire Safeguarding Children Partnership, which has commissioned a local child safeguarding practice review into the circumstances.
Sir Peter Wanless, NSPCC Chief Executive, said: “It is deeply harrowing and difficult to comprehend the suffering that Finley experienced leading up to his death, inflicted by the very people who should have been caring for him and protecting him from harm.
“The death of a child in such brutal circumstances leaves many of us asking questions and we await the Child Safeguarding Practice Review to provide answers as soon as possible.
“Finley was one of 36 children who died in England following abuse and maltreatment at home in 2020 alone. We know that babies and our youngest children are particularly vulnerable to abuse and completely reliant on the adults around them for care and protection.
"So that children who are most at risk are protected, it is vital the Government takes forward the changes recommended by previous reviews and experts to transform the child protection system and ensure the different agencies involved are able to work together effectively to focus on children and babies like Finley.
“It’s also crucial that everyone does all they can to prevent child abuse. Anyone who has concerns for a child’s safety should contact the local authorities, the police or the NSPCC Helpline.”
Boden, of Romford Way in Barrow Hill, Chesterfield, and Marsden, of no fixed address, will be sentenced on May 26.