Calls for answers as killer sentenced for another Black Country infant death
The fifth infant death in the Black Country has been brought before the courts in eight years - prompting politicians to demand answers.
Little Jeremiah Regis-Ngaujah is the latest victim after suffering a skull fracture, brain injuries and broken ribs at the hands of Chevaze Mcgregor, who was sentenced to 21 years in jail yesterday at Birmingham Crown Court.
No-one apart from Mcgregor will know the true extent of his assaults on his partner’s son, apart from it taking place over four hellish months at a flat on Wednesfield High Street.
Jeremiah’s mother, Sindyann Regis, alerted emergency services to his injuries – but by then it was too late, and she too was jailed for allowing or causing the child’s death, receiving three years and four months in prison.
A post mortem showed Jeremiah had died from peritonitis as a result of a duodenal rupture caused by a blow to the stomach by a clenched fist or kick.
Medics also found an adult human bite mark when he was first admitted in the early hours of November 21 last year.
He was pronounced dead at hospital a short time later.
A serious case review commissioned by Wolverhampton council is ongoing.
Sentencing Regis, 26, and Mcgregor, 27, both of High Street, Wednesfield, Judge Mr Justice Morris said: “It’s hard to imagine the pain inflicted upon such a defenceless child of two years of age.”
Little Jeremiah’s death brings the grim tally of child deaths in Wolverhampton to come before the courts in eight years to five.
The other tragedies include:
13-day-old Joshua Millinson murdered in Pendeford by father Daniel Sanzone, who was jailed for 15 years
Eight-month-old Rebecca Kandare left to starve and die at hands of parents Brian and Precious Kandare who were jailed after admitting manslaughter.
One-year-old Daniel Jones died in 2013 after swallowing heroin belonging to father Simon, who was jailed after admitting manslaughter. While mother Emma Bradburn was jailed for allowing it to happen.
Three-year-old Ryan Lovell-Hancox who was murdered with 54 injury marks found on his body after neglect by his mother’s cousin Kayley Bolyn and her partner Christopher Taylor in 2008. They were first brought before the court in 2009 and later jailed for murder.
In April, following the death of Joshua Millinson, a serious case review commissioned by Wolverhampton council revealed that several agencies including the council and the National Probation Service had failed to share information, meaning killer Daniel Sanzone was not identified as the newborn’s father until after the fatal attack.
Last year, another serious case review was published in to the death of Rebecca Kandare in 2014. It found chances were missed to intervene.
Last night city councillors and MPs spoke of their shock and demanded answers over the deaths.
Conservative leader on the city council, Wendy Thompson, said: “There are serious case reviews as a result of the deaths – it is vitally important each recommendation is then followed through.”
Council leader Councillor Roger Lawrence added: “Whether it emerges lessons need to be learned, we will find that out after the review.”
Wolverhampton North East MP Emma Reynolds said: “There have been too many children killed or hurt in recent years.”
Timeline of tragedies that have all stunned city
Jeremiah Regis-Ngaujah
Age: Two-and-a-half years
Date: November 20, 2016
Location: Wednesfield
What happened: He was found badly beaten at his home in Wolverhampton
Outcome: His mother, Sindyann Regis, 25, was jailed for three years and four months for allowing or causing the child’s death. His 27-year-old stepfather Chevaze McGregor was jailed for 21 years for murder at Birmingham Crown Court.
Joshua Millinson
Age: 13 days, then died following a month on life support
Date: Taken to hospital Oct 24, 2015
Location: Whitburn Close, Pendeford
What happened: Joshua’s father Daniel Sanzone vigorously shook 13-day-old Joshua Millinson causing him ‘catastrophic’ brain injuries
Outcome: Father Daniel Sanzone was convicted of murder and cruelty to a child at Wolverhampton Crown Court on November 2, 2016, and was sentenced to a minimum 15-year term.
Mother Zoe Howell had denied causing or allowing the death of her only child and was cleared of any wrongdoing.
Rebecca Kandare
Age: Eight months
Date: January 2014
Location: South Avenue, Wednesfield
What happened: Died from severe malnutrition, bronchopneumonia and rickets.
Left to starve and die by the deluded religious beliefs of her parents
Outcome: Father Brian Kandare admitted manslaughter at Nottingham Crown in November, 2015 and was jailed for nine-and-a-half years Mother Precious Kandare admitted manslaughter at Nottingham Crown in November 2015 and was jailed for eight years.
Daniel Jones
Age: 23 months
Date: May 29, 2012
Location: Windsor Avenue, Penn
What happened: Died of a heroin overdose after he picked up and swallowed a wrap of heroin belonging to his father
Tests also later revealed the child had suffered ‘chronic’ exposure to cannabis and opiates and ‘occasional’ exposure to amphetamines and cocaine.
Outcome: Mother Emma Bradburn pleaded guilty to causing or allowing the death of her child at Wolverhampton Crown Court in July 2013 and was jailed for four years. Father Simon Jones admitted manslaughter at at Wolverhampton Crown Court in July 2013 and was jailed for six years.
Ryan Lovell-Hancox
Age: Three
Date: Died in hospital on Christmas Eve, 2008
Location: flat in Bradley, Bilston,
What happened: There were 54 injury marks on his body when he died and he was said to have been ‘neglected, abused and beaten’, dying from a serious brain injury. Several marks had been caused by gripping or squeezing, while a friction burn to his nose stemmed from his face being rubbed on the carpet and ‘forceful’ blows from a slipper or shoe probably produced bruises on his bottom. He died from a brain haemorrhage
Outcome: Kayley Boleyn, the child’s mother’s cousin and her partner Christopher Taylor were in care of the child. They were both jailed for life for his murder in July 2010.
