A London-based couple have been jailed for the murder of their eight-month-old son, who suffered more than 80 injuries in the weeks before his death.Emanuel Turner, 33, was sentenced to 22 years in prison after being found guilty of murdering his son, Devon Rose Turner.
The BBC reported that the child’s mother, Shandis Rose, 29, was sentenced to 12 years in prison after being convicted of manslaughter.The pair were sentenced at Luton Crown Court on Wednesday over the death of Devon, who died in December 2021 at the family home in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire.Emergency services were called after Turner reported that his son was not breathing. Devon was taken to hospital but died shortly afterwards.During the sentencing hearing, Mrs Justice Farby said the infant had suffered great suffering and criticized both parents for failing to seek medical treatment.The judge told them: “You knew about his pain. You both decided to keep it a secret so that he would not receive any medical help.”The court heard that Devon suffered a “list of injuries”, with more than 80 separate injuries recorded in the eight weeks before his death.
Prosecutors said the injuries showed a continuing pattern of abuse.Following Devon’s death, Bedfordshire Police launched a lengthy investigation. Turner and Rose were arrested on suspicion of murder in 2022 but were released under investigation while investigators gathered more evidence.Police later discovered that the couple had traveled to Nigeria while the investigation continued. When they returned to the UK in May 2024, officers arrested them at the airport and later charged them.Both Turner and Rose were also found guilty of causing or permitting great harm to a child.Detective Inspector Lee Martin, who led the investigation, described the case as extremely complex and difficult.“From the beginning, our focus has been on determining exactly what happened to Devon and securing justice for him, with our team working tirelessly to ensure he is given a voice,” Martin said.“Nothing can undo what happened to him, but today’s sentence reflects the determination of our officers to ensure that those who should have been caring for and protecting him are held accountable for the abuse to which he was subjected.”He added that ideas of power remained with Devawn.
