Couple jailed for life over murder of toddler grandson

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A couple who murdered their two-year-old grandson have been jailed for life. Michael Ives, 47, and Kerry Ives, 46, were found guilty of his murder and cruelty to a child after a trial at Mold Crown Court and were handed minimum terms of 23 years and 17 years, respectively. Ethan Ives-Griffiths was dangerously dehydrated, severely underweight and had 40 visible bruises or marks when he collapsed with a catastrophic head injury at his grandparents' home in Flintshire in August 2021. Ethan's mother, Shannon Ives, 28, who had been staying with her son at her parents' home, was found guilty of causing or allowing his death and child cruelty. She received a 12-year sentence. Passing sentence, Mr Justice Griffiths told the pair they had committed "terrible crimes against your own flesh and blood". He said Ethan, although only two, was a "brave and resilient boy with a strong character". "His mother and his grandparents hit him, but when they did, he was defiant and even laughed," the judge said. "He already had qualities which in an adult could make for greatness," he added. "But the people hitting him didn't like the little boy standing up for himself. They decided to break him. "After a horrifying escalation of cruelty and violence over a couple of months, he was murdered. "All the hopes and promise of the life he should have had were taken from him." The judge's sentencing remarks can be read in full at: https://www.judiciary.uk/judgments/the-king-v-michael-ives-kerry-ives-and-shannon-ives/ SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel for more videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF3HqeLrCkZgARQfyqj1m-g?view_as=subscriber Follow Sky News on Twitter: https://twitter.com/skynews and https://twitter.com/skynewsbreak Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skynews Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skynews For more content go to http://news.sky.com and download our apps: Apple https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/sky-news/id316391924?mt=8 Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bskyb.skynews.android&hl=en_GB