A couple have been found guilty of murdering their two-year-old grandson who was dangerously dehydrated and severely underweight when he collapsed with a catastrophic head injury at their North Wales home.
Michael Ives, 47, and Kerry Ives, 46, were convicted at Mold Crown Court on Tuesday, July 15, of the murder of Ethan Ives-Griffiths, who died in August 2021 after suffering fatal injuries whilst in their care at their home in Garden City, Flintshire.
The jury took just one day to reach their verdict following a harrowing five-and-a-half week trial that left jurors visibly upset at several points.
Systematic Abuse Revealed
The court heard that two-year-old Ethan was “targeted for abuse and subjected to casual cruelty” in the weeks before his death on August 16, 2021.
When he collapsed on the evening of August 14, the toddler was found with 40 visible bruises or marks on his body and was dangerously thin and desperately dehydrated.
Prosecutor Caroline Rees KC told the court that according to medical experts, Ethan would have experienced “distress, pain and misery in the days and weeks prior to his death.”
Mother Also Found Guilty
Ethan’s mother, Shannon Ives, 28, who had been staying with her son at her parents’ home after fleeing domestic violence, was found guilty of causing or allowing his death and of child cruelty.
The court heard she had moved in with her parents in June 2021 after leaving her home in Mold.
“This young woman will live with that till the day she dies,” her defence barrister Gordon Cole KC told the court during closing arguments.
Disturbing CCTV Evidence
Jurors were shown distressing CCTV footage from outside the family home which captured Michael Ives carrying his grandson by the top of his arm.
The footage, recorded on August 12, showed him putting Ethan into a car seat before appearing to make two downward punching motions towards the youngster.
Security cameras did not show Ethan leaving the house between August 4 and August 12, raising serious concerns about his confinement.
Fatal Collapse
On the evening of August 14, 2021, Ethan was in the living room with his grandparents whilst his mother was upstairs on the phone.
Both Michael and Kerry Ives told the jury “nothing” had happened to the toddler before he collapsed whilst they were watching television.
Kerry Ives said she immediately called for Shannon to come downstairs, but the court heard it was 18 minutes before she called emergency services.
Medical Evidence
Ethan was initially taken to the Countess of Chester Hospital before being transferred to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, where he died two days later.
Medical experts testified that Ethan’s fatal head injury was caused by deliberate force, which may have included forceful shaking, and occurred at the time or within minutes of his collapse.
“The overwhelming expert evidence suggested the fatal injury was caused within minutes of his collapse,” the prosecution stated.
Post-mortem examinations revealed abdominal injuries consistent with blows inflicted in the days before his death, along with bruises matching grip marks on his leg and face.
Severe Neglect
At the time of his death, Ethan weighed just 10kg – dangerously underweight for a child of his age.
Medical experts testified that the toddler would have died of dehydration within days had he not suffered the fatal head injury.
Clinicians from Alder Hey described Ethan as “very small and underweight” with “missing chunks” in his lip and appearing “dirty” when admitted.
Punishment Methods
The court heard disturbing details of how Ethan was made to stand with his hands on his head as a punishment when he misbehaved.
Shannon Ives testified that she witnessed her father shaking Ethan and admitted during the trial that her son was at “risk of serious harm.”
Michael Ives had previously admitted in court to being “cruel and neglectful to the toddler.”
Failed Safeguarding
Tragically, Ethan had been placed on the child protection register, requiring visits every 10 days.
However, when social worker Michael Cornish attempted to visit in the days before Ethan’s death, no one answered the door.
Shannon Ives last saw her social worker on August 5, speaking to him on the doorstep and claiming Ethan was having a nap.
A scheduled appointment with a health visitor on August 13 – the day before Ethan’s fatal collapse – was cancelled.
Family Background
The court heard conflicting accounts about the family dynamics, with Michael and Kerry Ives, originally from Wolverhampton, accusing their daughter of hitting her son.
Michael Ives told the jury his daughter was “quick-tempered” and would slap Ethan a couple of times a day.
However, Shannon Ives told the court her parents were “horrible” and had abused her as a child, claiming she was “scared” of her father.
Justice Delivered
Mr Justice Griffiths presided over the trial, which concluded with guilty verdicts for all three defendants.
Michael and Kerry Ives were convicted of murder and cruelty to a child under the age of 16.
Shannon Ives was found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child and child cruelty.
The case has highlighted serious failures in child protection systems and the tragic consequences when vulnerable children fall through the cracks.
Sentencing is expected to take place at a later date.
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