A distressing account detailed in The Times sheds light on the tragic murder of ten-month-old Finley Boden at the hands of his drug-abusing parents and the systemic failures within care agencies. The report uncovers a harrowing reality: Finley suffered a savage attack, enduring 130 injuries inflicted by his parents, Stephen Boden and Shannon Marsden. In May of last year, both were handed life sentences, with Boden facing a minimum term of 29 years and Marsden, 27 years.
Despite the ultimate responsibility resting with Finley’s parents, the report poignantly highlights the vital role care agencies should have played in safeguarding the vulnerable child. It exposes significant shortcomings in the plans devised for Finley’s reunification with his parents, revealing that much of the abuse went undetected by professionals. The decision to return Finley to his parents’ care, sanctioned by a family court in November 2020, starkly disregarded concerns voiced by social services regarding the parents’ rampant cannabis use and the deplorable conditions of their residence.
Throughout the Covid-19 lockdown in winter 2020, the couple exploited the restrictions to shield Finley from scrutiny, denying access to both family members and social workers. Their manipulation of lockdown measures extended to rebuffing a family member’s attempt to deliver Christmas presents, with lockdown cited as a pretext for their refusal. The report underscores the disruptive impact of the unfamiliar working conditions imposed by Covid restrictions, including remote court hearings and limited in-person meetings, which distorted professionals’ roles and impeded discussions concerning Finley’s welfare.
During the trial at Derby Crown Court, it emerged that Marsden, 22, and Boden, 30, had deceived authorities with a barrage of lies in their bid to regain custody of Finley. Despite pleas from social workers, magistrates disregarded requests for drug tests and truncated the supervised transition period, neglecting Finley’s welfare in the process.
Tragically, Finley collapsed on Christmas Eve, yet his parents delayed calling an ambulance for an hour, driven by a desire to conceal their drug use. Post-mortem examinations revealed a litany of injuries – burns, 71 bruises, 57 fractures, and a broken pelvis – indicative of severe abuse. These injuries precipitated infections, including pneumonia and sepsis, ultimately claiming Finley’s life.
Carol Cammiss, executive director for children’s services at Derbyshire County Council, expressed profound remorse over Finley’s untimely demise, conceding that despite significant Covid restrictions, opportunities were missed. Immediate action has been taken to fortify systems and procedures in the council’s approach to working with families and infants.
The Derby and Derbyshire Safeguarding Children Partnership has committed to implementing additional measures to prevent the recurrence of similar tragedies in the future.