Couple guilty of murdering two-year-old grandson

A grandfather and grandmother have been found guilty of murdering their two-year-old grandson.

Ethan Ives-Griffiths, two, from Garden City in Flintshire, died on 16 August 2021 after suffering a "catastrophic" head injury.

Ethan's grandfather Michael Ives, 47, and grandmother Kerry Ives, 46, were both convicted of murder after a trial at Mold Crown Court.

Ethan's mother Shannon Ives, 28, from Mold, was also found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child and cruelty to a child.

Michael and Kerry Ives have also been found guilty of cruelty to a child.

The trio will all be sentenced on 3 October.

The court heard Ethan was dangerously dehydrated and severely underweight, with 40 visible bruises or marks, when he collapsed with a catastrophic head injury at his grandparents' home on the evening of 14 August 2021.

Shannon Ives had been staying with her son at her parents' home in Garden City when the court heard he was "targeted for abuse and subjected to casual cruelty".

As the verdicts were announced, Shannon and Kerry Ives stared ahead while Michael Ives rested his head on his left hand while starting in front of him.

Speaking to Michael and Kerry Ives, Judge Mr Justice Griffiths said there was only "one sentence for murder and that is life imprisonment."

"I have to consider the minimum term you must serve before you can be considered for release on licence, which is likely to be many years from now," he said.

"In the case of Shannon Ives, a substantial prison sentence is almost certain, and the sentence is very unlikely to be anything other than immediate custody."

During a seven-week trial, the jury heard a 13-minute 999 call made by Kerry Ives to the ambulance service on the evening of 14 August, saying Ethan had collapsed while watching television.

Michael Ives is heard saying "he looks like he's asleep". The call ended when paramedics arrived at the house.

Ethan was then taken to Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, where "multiple areas of bruises" were noted on his body.

Ethan was pronounced dead on 16 August.

The jury was also shown CCTV installed in the Ives' garden which showed Ethan apparently struggling for balance while other children bounced around him.

In several clips, he was seen lying on his side and despite getting to his feet, was seen falling repeatedly.

At one point, his mother Shannon climbed on the trampoline and bounced, causing Ethan to fall.