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TOT KILLER GUILTY

‘Violent’ thug faces life sentence for murdering his partner’s two-year-old son by ‘punching and kicking’ him to death

Little boy died from a severe injury to the abdomen after being savagely beaten by mum's boyfriend

A VIOLENT brute was today convicted of murdering his partner's two-year-old son while she popped out to fetch ingredients to bake a cake with him.

Joseph Eke "punched and kicked" little Harry House on a number of occasions before murdering him with “significant and severe, non-accidental” blows.

Joseph Eke has been found guilty of child murder
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Joseph Eke has been found guilty of child murderCredit: PA:Press Association
Little Harry House was horribly assaulted before his death
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Little Harry House was horribly assaulted before his deathCredit: Facebook

He went into cardiac arrest at his home on the morning of May 26.

When the tragic toddler’s mum Lauren O'Neill returned from a village shop in Broadmayne, near Dorchester, Dorset, she discovered Harry dying.

But Eke pretended the boy was ill before urging not to call 999.

Even when the lifeless child was rushed to hospital, unwitting Lauren was so oblivious of what had happened she tenderly asked her son: "What about the cake we are baking, Harry?"

Examination after the toddler's death found he suffered a brain haemorrhage, multiple bruises and cuts to his body.

The tot’s pancreas was found to have split in two after a forceful strike.

Winchester Crown Court heard how Eke launched a "pattern" of abuse against Harry in the months before his death.

Eke had denied murder but today jurors returned their verdict after deliberating since Tuesday, after a three-week trial.

He was cleared of separate charges of ABH and unlawful wounding.

Harry had been abused by Eke on separate occasions before he was beaten to death
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Harry had been abused by Eke on separate occasions before he was beaten to deathCredit: PA:Press Association

Prosecutor Adam Feest QC told the court: "Harry was dying from the time he was attacked.”

"It could have been kicks, punches, or a series of combinations of both, it's hard for medical experts to say."

Eke had told the court he loved Harry and would never harm a child.

He will be sentenced at the same court on June 5.

Mum Lauren O'Neill had popped out to the shop when her child was attacked
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Mum Lauren O'Neill had popped out to the shop when her child was attackedCredit: Facebook

Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Derbyshire, of Dorset Police, said the family were "relieved" at the verdicts.

She said: "It's been incredibly difficult for them, with the loss of a beautiful two-and-a-half year toddler who had the rest of his life to lead.

"So the loss of him, the grieving of him, then police investigation, a three-week court case but today's verdict has made them more content, I hope."


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