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Daily Record
Daily Record
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Annabal Bagdi & Chloe Burrell

Horrifying moment child killer smirks as he is arrested after tot beaten to death

A chilling video has emerged of the moment a murderer who beat a tot to death was arrested by police.

Drug dealer Nathaniel Pope, 32, was shirtless when officers arrived at the cramped flat where he repeatedly assaulted young Kemarni Watson Darby, aged three.

The callous child killer ended up in cuffs and was initially arrested on suspicion of child cruelty before later being charged with murder, Birmingham Live reports.

Footage released by West Midlands Police showcases cops arriving at the scene of the crime in West Bromwich to arrest Pope - who was under the influence of cannabis when he killed Kermarni.

It comes after Pope was placed behind bars for life on May 24, with a minimum term of 24 years, for murder.

Watson was also jailed for 11 years at Birmingham Crown Court for causing or allowing her son's death.

He was responsible for the tot's fatal injury which saw him punch and kick the three-year-old to his chest, limbs and abdomen on June 5, 2018. 'Dangerous' criminal Pope lived with Kermani's mum Alicia Watson and the toddler in a two-bedroom flat in Stanton House, Beaconview Road.

Detective Inspector James Mahon, who led West Midlands Police's investigation, said: "When the police and emergency services arrived at the scene, his response was apathetic. He distanced himself, he even claimed he wasn't the partner of Alicia Watson and just dismissed all the questions about Kemarni.

Kemarni Watson Darby (Birmingham Live)

"That was clearly a deliberate act because he had delivered the fatal blow that had killed Kemarni. He's not shown any signs of remorse. He is a violent and dangerous individual."

Kemarni was left with 30 external injuries - including rib fractures and 'car crash-like' wounds. Watson, 31, of Radnor Road, Handsworth, and Pope, 32, of Evans Street, Wolverhampton, denied all charges faced.

Jurors convicted Pope of murder last month. Watson - who stayed in a relationship with Pope after her son's death - was acquitted of murdering her son but was convicted of causing or allowing his death.

The pair were also convicted of multiple child cruelty counts. Di Mahon added: "Kemarni was so young and would not have been able to explain what was happening, or the pain that he was feeling to those that cared for him.

"It’s absolutely awful that the two people who were supposed to look after him the most were those that caused injury, and in the end his death.

"I hope that the conviction of both Pope and Watson at least gives Kemarni’s loved ones some form of closure."

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