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Dad given life sentence for breaking baby girl's spine

A man who killed his 16-month-old daughter by snapping her spine has been sentenced to life in prison on Friday.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 19:25 October 24, 2008
  • Gulf News

South Yorkshire: A man who killed his 16-month-old daughter by snapping her spine has been sentenced to life in prison on Friday.

James Howson, 25, was convicted of murder on Tuesday after the jury at Leeds crown court heard how he held 16-month-old Amy over his knee and broke her back in two.

On Friday, Mrs Justice Cox ordered Howson to serve a minimum of 22 years in prison.

"This was, my view, a chilling and brutal attack. The bone was completely dislocated, resulting in spinal shock, rapid unconsciousness – mercifully – and to death," she said.

"The jury was satisfied, on the clearest of evidence, that it was you who deliberately inflicted truly horrific injuries upon your defenceless little daughter, Amy, from which she died within a few hours," Justice Cox added.

Amy's mother Tina Hunt, 26, was also handed a 12-month suspended sentence after she admitted child cruelty on the basis she failed to alert authorities of her daughter's situation.

"Your level of culpability falls at the lowest end if the scale," the judge told her after hearing how Howson was often violent towards her.

In the weeks leading up to Amy's death in December she received multiple fractures to her legs and arms due to an assault by Howson, the court heard.

Reports suggest Howson showed no emotion when sentenced, with Mrs Justice Cox adding: "I have not seen the slightest evidence of remorse from you for what you did."

Howson showed no emotion as he was led from the dock.

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