A man has been found guilty of murdering a 13-month-old baby in one of the “most shocking and sickening cases of violence” investigating detectives had ever come across.
Hardeep Hunjan, 27, caused injuries to Noah Serra-Morrison that were so severe they were similar to those arising from a car crash.
Noah’s mother, Ronnie Tayler-Morrison, 22, was cleared of murder but both she and her partner were found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child and of cruelty to a child under 16. The pair will be sentenced on Friday.
Among the 15 injures which resulted in Noah's death in November 2015 was a 15cm (6in) wound to his skull.
Prosecutor Jane Bickerstaff QC had told the court Noah's injuries were likely to have been caused by him being deliberately and violently swung against a wall or floor, or by his limbs being twisted with "severe force".
Hunjan and Tayler-Morrison both said they did not know how Noah was killed but, if he had been murdered, then the other person was to blame.
They also told paramedics and neighbours that Noah injured himself falling from his cot, a claim which Ms Bickerstaff said was impossible.
Following an investigation by detectives, it was discovered Hunjan and Tayler-Morrison delayed calling the emergency services for help.
In the period between the injuries being inflicted and Tayler-Morrison calling 999, the then-21-year-old made internet searches for the terms "my baby is hurt" and "my baby is breathing but not moving".
She also called her sister, crying and saying Noah had fallen from his cot.
The court was shown pictures of Hunjan and Tayler-Morrison smoking cannabis. Excerpts from Tayler-Morrison’s diary were also read to the court. One said: "I don't see life without him and as much as this sounds selfish I know that I love Noah but I love H more."
Noah’s father Stefano Coiana separated from Tayler-Morrison in the spring of 2015, and soon after she moved into a flat in Crawley Road, Luton, with Hunjan.
In a statement, Mr Coiana said: “When Noah was alive he made my life happy. It wasn’t his job to make me happy but he did. He did it by just being here.
“It was good to love Noah. He loved me unconditionally – what can you say to describe how that feels? It was just so very, very good. I don’t see a lot in my future without him.”
Detective Inspector Fraser Wylie said: “Rarely do we come across a case that involves such sheer malice and utter cruelty against a small child by two people who were supposed to love and care for him.
“Poor Noah experienced fear, pain, neglect and extreme brutality during his too-short life. No child deserves that, and it has been evident throughout our investigation and the trial that Tayler-Morrison and Hunjan chose a tumultuous, drug- and alcohol-fuelled lifestyle over his happiness and welfare.
“This has truly been one of the most shocking and sickening cases of violence we have ever come across, and I would like to thank my tenacious, dedicated team of investigators who have worked so hard in all hours of the day and night to bring this traumatic case to a resolution.
"Though nothing can ever bring back their beautiful boy, I hope today’s verdict can bring some semblance of peace for Noah’s wider family.”
