15/05/2012

Life For Murderer Of Five-Year-Old Boy

34-year-old Elvis Lee has been jailed for life for the murder of his partner’s young son.

Five-year-old Tyler Whelan died in hospital following an attack by Lee in March 2011. The child had been kicked, beaten and bitten.

Cambridge Crown Court heard the boy had suffered "blunt force trauma" to the head and abdomen.

Tyler's mother, Stephanie Whelan, 27, who is originally from Wigan, had stood trial with Lee and had denied causing or allowing her son's death.

She was found guilty by a jury on Monday.

Tyler's death followed three earlier admissions to hospital.

Doctors had contacted social services when the boy suffered a broken leg in June 2010 but it was later decided no intervention was needed.

At the time of his death Tyler’s injuries included 18 to his face and neck, 17 to his body, 10 to his arms and hands, and 13 to his legs, including a human bite mark.

A Serious Case Review published on Monday stated there were "numerous missed opportunities" to help Tyler, and "concern that no professional ever saw him in the family home".

Lee must serve a minimum of 16 years in prison before being considered for parole.

Stephanie Whelan will be sentenced at a later date.

(H)


Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

19 April 2013
Driver Killed By Own Coach
A coach driver has been killed after his own coach ran over him at a car park in Devon. It is understood that the driver, a 50-year-old man from Newton Abbot, stopped his coach in the car park at the Famous Lee Mill clothes store, near Plymouth, due to mechanical fault, and as he was getting out of the vehicle it rolled forward.
20 January 2005
Foreign Office to issue death certificates for tsunami missing
The Foreign Office has confirmed that it will issue death certificates for British nationals missing, presumed dead, in the Boxing Day tsunami disaster.
24 February 2015
Bristol Boxing Promoter Missing In Monaco
A boxing promoter from Bristol has been reported missing in Monaco. It is understood that 29-year-old Michael Graydon, from Stockwood, had travelled to Monaco to watch Bristol fighter Lee Haskins. According to reports Mr Graydon was captured on CCTV footage running from a nightclub at about 01:40 on Saturday.
29 September 2014
Dave Lee Travis Sentence To Be Reviewed
A three-month sentence given to Dave Lee Travis is to be reviewed by the attorney general's office, it has been revealed. The sentence was handed down to the former Radio 1 DJ on Friday after he was found guilty of assaulting a female television researcher in 1995.
24 February 2014
Dave Lee Travis To Face Retrial On Two Remaining Charges
Dave Lee Travis is to be re-tried on a charge of indecent assault and sexual assault. Earlier this month the 68-year-old former Radio 1 DJ was found not guilty on 12 counts of indecent assault but the jury was unable to reach a verdict on two other charges.