A heroin addict will spend at least 18 years in prison for murdering his partner’s two-year-old son in a fit of temper when he was left alone with the child for a few minutes.
Joseph Eke, 22, attacked Harry House after the boy’s mother went to the shops, leaving him with a fractured skull and kicking or punching him in the abdomen.
Winchester crown court heard that in the weeks before the fatal attack, Eke had inflicted bruises and broken ribs on Harry.
In a statement read to the court, Harry’s mother, Lauren O’Neill, said of Eke: “He has ruined so many people’s lives and not shown an ounce of remorse. We are truly heartbroken, he [Harry] was such a special boy.”
In a statement released by Dorset police after the sentencing, Harry’s wider family said: “This past year has been the most horrific time for our family, but we have at least now got justice for our darling Harry, although it is bittersweet that we have lost him forever.
“We are grateful that no other child and their family will have to go through what we have because of the actions of Eke and are at least thankful he is where he should be and for a very long time.
“As a family we now have to try and move on from this heartbreaking tragedy and, although justice has now been done, things will never be the same again.”
The court was told that the cause of death was a blunt force injury to the abdomen and a fractured skull. A postmortem also indicated that Harry suffered at least three traumatic events in the week before his death, which resulted in fractured ribs and bruising.
As well as being found guilty of murder, Eke was convicted of GBH related to the rib fractures. He was cleared of a second GBH charge connected to an incident in which Harry allegedly fell and cut his face on a plate.
Sentencing him to life, the judge, Mrs Justice May, told Eke: “You wilfully, fatally, failed Harry when you assaulted him, taking his life.”
She added that O’Neill had been “in denial” about the abuse by Eke in the last days of Harry’s life. The judge said: “Any untimely death is a tragedy, it is particularly wretched when a child dies.”
Eke had helped with Harry’s childcare and the boy called him Daddy Joe Joe. He showed no emotion as he was sentenced to serve a minimum of 18 years for the murder on 26 May last year at the family home in Broadmayne, Dorset.
Adam Feest QC, prosecuting, said Harry died as a result of a blunt-force impact to the abdomen, probably by punching or kicking, which was of such force that it split the pancreas in two. He also suffered a skull fracture.
O’Neill, 22, told the trial how her son went “all floppy” in her arms before he deteriorated rapidly and died as paramedics tried to save his life.
The court heard that in July last year, Eke assaulted O’Neill during a row about the cause of Harry’s death.
Eke denied all the offences and told the court: “I didn’t kill him, I wouldn’t kill him. I wouldn’t harm a kid.”
Outside court, DCI Sarah Derbyshire said: “Joseph Eke subjected two-and-a-half-year-old Harry House to a violent episode that resulted in his death. Above all, my heartfelt thoughts are with Harry’s family. It has been an absolutely terrible time for them and still continues to be so, with the loss of little Harry from their lives.
