Rebecca Shuttleworth

Case record: Rebecca Shuttleworth

Background

Rebecca Shuttleworth was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum tariff of 18 years, on June 25, 2013.

She was 25 at the time of the offences. During the case, she was described by police as a “monster”. She spent much of her childhood in care as her alcoholic mother struggled to cope, and she had “considerable experience of the care system”. She had had a troubled upbringing and spent time in care. She was also described as having a “cruel and vicious streak”.

Prosecutor Christopher Hotten QC said Shuttleworth had used her knowledge of the care system to “manipulate social workers, teachers, doctors and care professionals to believe that she was a competent and caring mother”.

The child she killed was Keanu Williams, described in court as a “delightful little boy” and a “little entertainer” who remained cheerful despite everything. Joyful was used by more than one witness to describe him, and he was a favourite at nursery as well as within the family.

Shuttleworth lived with Keanu’s father in Torquay, Devon, and later moved back to Birmingham when Keanu was 15 months old.

The offence

Shuttleworth was convicted of murdering her two-year-old son Keanu Williams.

The trial described the murder as involving a brutal and sustained assault by Shuttleworth over a period of hours, with the judge saying there was no intention to kill but that it was a “brutal and sustained attack”. The judge stated that Shuttleworth was Keanu’s mother and that it was her “most basic and natural duty to protect him”.

Keanu died of internal bleeding in January 2011 after being beaten over 48 hours at the Birmingham flat of Shuttleworth’s then partner, Luke Southerton.

Keanu’s injuries included:

• 37 separate injuries
• some injuries caused by a rod or stick
• a fractured skull
• a fist-sized tear on his stomach
• a “tramline” bruising described as consistent with Keanu having been struck with an object such as a stick or rod with some force

The judge described Keanu’s death as a “lingering death over many hours following a brutal assault”.

The prosecution said Keanu’s injuries were not an “isolated event” but had been the culmination of a long period of ill-treatment.

Shuttleworth did not seek medical help before a 999 call was made. The judge said Shuttleworth decided not to seek medical help because she knew his injuries, including internal bleeding to his abdomen, could not be explained away.

Investigation

Detective Chief Inspector Caroline Marsh led the investigation for West Midlands Police. She said: “In the past, I have described her as a monster and perhaps I would stand by that.”

Outside court, Detective Chief Inspector Caroline Marsh said: “Whilst we have seen justice done, it does not change the fact that Keanu has lost his life in heart-breaking circumstances. My sympathy rests with the friends and family he left behind.”

She also said: “The investigation team have all worked extremely hard to find their way through the last two years. It’s extremely difficult to understand how someone could do that to their own child. Rebecca Shuttleworth is clearly somebody who is not like a normal member of society.

She added: “He suffered at the hand of his mother, who should have loved him unconditionally. To do the type of things that she has done to Keanu is just unthinkable.”

Asked whether more could have been done by agencies involved with Shuttleworth to protect Keanu, Ms Marsh replied: “Everyone will have their own view on whether anything else could have been done. Perhaps the answer to that question will be in the serious case review.”

A review was begun into why social workers failed to spot the abuse. Jane Held, head of the Birmingham Safeguarding Children Board, said social services, medics and police “missed a significant number of opportunities to intervene”.

Arrest / Detention

Shuttleworth was remanded in custody. She had been on bail throughout the case and attended court with a woman she was heard to describe as her “partner”.

Trial

Shuttleworth was tried for murder and child cruelty offences. She was found guilty on all the charges she faced, including murder and four counts of child cruelty.

Shuttleworth, at the point of sentencing after conviction, was described as weeping in the dock and closing her eyes briefly, biting her lip, looking upwards and shaking her head after the jury found her guilty.

The prosecution told the jury that Keanu’s injuries were not an “isolated event” but had been the culmination of a long period of ill-treatment, and that Shuttleworth’s failure to seek help until it was too late was potent evidence that she knew his injuries were “incapable of sensible explanation”.

The prosecution stated that Shuttleworth had hoped Keanu would “get better” and only called 999 when she realised it was hopeless.

The judge also described Shuttleworth’s conduct in relation to her explanations to staff and her decision not to seek medical help.

At the trial, Shuttleworth told staff at the child’s nursery that his bruises came from bumps or falls.

In December 2010, Shuttleworth took Keanu to hospital with burned feet, which she claimed came from a radiator beside his bed. She was told police would inspect her home and texted Southerton to make sure their stories matched up.

The trial included the jury hearing that Shuttleworth “resented” Keanu virtually from his birth in 2008. She saw the child as an “obstruction to living her life as she wanted”.

Luke Southerton, 32, was Shuttleworth’s then partner. He was convicted of a single child cruelty offence of biting Keanu to “teach him a lesson” and was given a nine-month suspended sentence and ordered to carry out 200 hours’ unpaid work.

Southerton was cleared by the jury of murder, manslaughter and causing or allowing Keanu’s death, but convicted of cruelty.

HuffingtonPost reports also described Southerton as being convicted of “wilful assault”.

Sentencing

At sentencing, Mr Justice Robin Spencer told Shuttleworth: “You were his mother and it was your most basic and natural duty to protect him.”

He said: “One can scarcely imagine the pain and distress Keanu must have suffered from this outburst of violence.”

The judge stated: “He must have been terrified, it must have been clear to you as soon as the violence had taken place that Keanu was badly in need of medical attention.”

The judge further said: “By the jury’s verdict, you alone were responsible for the violence which led to Keanu's death.”

Mr Justice Spencer described Shuttleworth’s behaviour and said: “Keanu was particularly vulnerable because of his age.” “His was a lingering death over many hours following a brutal assault by his own mother.” “This was the grossest abuse of a position of trust - you were his mother and it was your most basic and natural duty to protect him.” “I accept that there was no intention to kill but this was a brutal and sustained attack.”

The judge also said no sentence he could pass would ever fill the void left by the toddler’s death.

Shuttleworth was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum tariff of 18 years.

A local Labour MP, Khalid Mahmood, said: “It’s disgusting that this woman, who tortured an innocent child to death, could be back on the streets so soon.” “As far as I am concerned she was allowed to take a life, so that should mean life – it’s as simple as that.”

Appeals

No appeal information was included.

Outcome

Shuttleworth was convicted of murder and four counts of child cruelty and was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum tariff of 18 years on June 25, 2013.

Southerton was convicted of child cruelty and received a nine-month suspended sentence and was ordered to carry out 200 hours’ unpaid work.

Aftermath

Jane Held, independent chair of the Birmingham Safeguarding Children Board, said: “This is an extremely sad case and my sympathies are with those who knew Keanu.” “The person responsible for his death has been held to account; following a trial Keanu's mother Rebecca Shuttleworth has been convicted of murder.” “Her partner Luke Southerton has been convicted of wilful assault.” “It is already clear that there are lessons to learn from how various agencies worked together to support Keanu and his family.” “The serious case review into Keanu's death will now be completed and will be published shortly.” “This review will identify those lessons, establish what has changed since Keanu's death and importantly make recommendations on how we can further improve the safeguarding of children in Birmingham.” “While we can't go into detail prior to the review being made public, it is clear from this trial that professionals in the different agencies involved missed a significant number of opportunities to intervene and take action.”

Tom Rahilly of the NSPCC said: “This is an extremely sad and distressing case.” “It is clear that little Keanu, a defenceless toddler, had suffered unthinkable abuse and neglect at the hands of his mother Rebecca Shuttleworth for many months prior to the final, brutal beating which led to his death.” “Tragically, Keanu's short life was blighted by abuse by the person who should have cared for and protected him from harm.” “Today's guilty verdict means we are one step closer to gaining justice for Keanu.” “It's vital that we spot the signs of abuse and take early action to prevent harm.”

The case involved a serious case review into Keanu’s death and questions about children’s services at Birmingham City Council.

Birmingham City Council had been rated “inadequate” since 2009 after deaths of children known to social workers. The material also referenced other cases:

• In 2008, four-month-old Aaliyah Jordan-Fellows died after being thrown into her cot by her uncle, Jason Roberts, at her home in Kings Heath. Roberts was jailed for manslaughter. Social services knew Roberts was a “risk to children” but did nothing to prevent the tot’s death.
• In 2008, seven-year-old Khyra Ishaq was starved to death after being severely mistreated by her mother and her partner at a house in Handsworth. She weighed just 2st 9lb when discovered. A probe found a catalogue of errors by care agencies who could have saver her.
• In 2010, Alia Ahmed Jama, three, was stabbed to death and doused in acid by her mother at Erdington; welfare workers were heavily criticised.
• In 2011, a report slammed health and probation staff over the death of three-year-old Dylan Crean, who was punched and kicked to death by his mother Katie’s boyfriend.

Timeline

• January 2011 — Keanu Williams died of internal bleeding after being beaten over 48 hours.
• December 2010 — Shuttleworth took Keanu to hospital with burned feet, claiming they came from a radiator beside his bed.
• June 25, 2013 — Shuttleworth was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum tariff of 18 years.

Other details

• Keanu was referred to by his family as “Kiwi”.
• Paramedics discovered Keanu’s lifeless body at Southerton’s flat in Ward End, Birmingham.
• The material described a “deprived Ward End suburb” and referred to Old Moat Way, Ward End.
• The couple dialled 999, claiming Keanu had had a heart attack.
• One account stated the 999 call was made at 7.42pm on January 9.
• Another account stated Keanu was pronounced dead on January 9, 2011, after paramedics arrived at Southerton’s flat in Old Moat Way, Ward End.