Mother and father convicted of murdering son in Chesterfield
10 month old Finley Boden was found unresponsive on Christmas Day in 2020
Last updated 14th Apr 2023
A man and woman have been found guilty of murdering their son in Chesterfield, after burning and beating him in the days before his death.
Stephen Boden, 30, and Shannon Marsden, 22, were on trial at Derby Crown Court accused of killing 10-month-old Finley Boden in the winter 2020 Covid lockdown, 39 days after he was placed back into their care.
Prosecutor Mary Prior KC described how Finley 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.
Finley was found to have suffered a cardiac arrest at the family's home in Holland Road, Great Whittington, Chesterfield.
Paramedics were called there at 2.33am on Christmas Day and Finley was taken to hospital, but despite medics' best efforts he was pronounced dead at 3.45am.
Jurors heard Finley was returned to the couple's care over eight weeks by a court order in October 2020, despite social workers asking for a longer transition.
Child protection concerns meant Finley was also originally removed from his parents' care shortly after being born in February 2020.