A jury has retired to consider verdicts in the trial of grandparents accused of murdering their two-year-old grandson. Michael Ives, 47, and Kerry Ives, 46, are charged with killing Ethan Ives-Griffiths at their home in Flintshire, North Wales.
Ethan died on 16 August 2021, two days after collapsing with a fatal head injury at his grandparents' house on Kingsley Road, Garden City. The trial at Mold Crown Court has lasted more than five weeks.
Severe injuries discovered
The court heard Ethan was severely underweight and dehydrated when he died, with 40 visible marks on his body. Medical experts told the jury the boy would have experienced "distress, pain and misery in the days and weeks prior to his death".
Both Michael and Kerry Ives, originally from Wolverhampton, West Midlands, deny murder, an alternative count of causing or allowing death, and cruelty to a child under 16. Ethan's mother Shannon Ives, of Rhes-y-Cae, near Holywell, who was living with her parents at the time, denies causing or allowing his death and child cruelty.
CCTV evidence shown
Mr Justice Griffiths sent the jury out to consider verdicts just before 11.30am on Monday, telling them: "You are under no pressure of time." Caroline Rees KC, prosecuting, said Ethan was exposed to "casual brutality" during his time with his grandparents.
Jurors were shown CCTV footage from outside the home of Michael Ives carrying the youngster by the top of his arm. The court heard Ethan was with his grandparents in the living room on 14 August 2021, while his mother was upstairs on the phone.
Fatal injury details
Both Michael and Kerry Ives told the jury nothing happened in the moments before Ethan collapsed. However, medical experts believed his head injury was caused by deliberate use of force, which may have included forceful shaking.
The prosecution said the "overwhelming expert evidence" suggested the fatal injury was caused within minutes of his collapse. The trial has examined the circumstances leading to the toddler's death over the course of more than five weeks.
(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
