Jailed for 14 years: Mum who battered baby to death while posing for selfies

A mother was today found guilty of murdering her son, and sentenced to a minimum of 14 years in prison.

Mum-hero

by Jessica Anais Rach |
Published on

Emma Wilson beat her 11-month-old son so violently, that her neighbour’s ceiling shook.

The injuries left little Callum with fractures to nine ribs, his left leg and his right arm and severe brain damage - injuries, which caused his death.

The court heard that Callum suffered a catalogue of abuse at the hands of his mother in the weeks before his death.

Horrifically she took 'before' and 'after' photographs of herself with him throughout her attacks, with his injured and crying face clearly visible.

The last attack, which took place in March 2011, resulted in Callum being taken to hospital the day after her most violent attack.

Sadly he died from 'unsurvivable' brain damage three days later.

Wilson in court- she was sentenced to life with a minimum of 14 years today
Wilson in court- she was sentenced to life with a minimum of 14 years today

The court heard how Wilson called emergency services the day after the brutal attack, saying:

‘I just got him out the cot. He was fine when he went to bed. He’s lifeless and not doing anything. He’s making noises but I don’t know.’

In hospital, the 25-year-old then tried to blame her 2-year-old son for the younger boy’s injuries.

'You are adept at lying and displayed a total lack of emotion throughout the trial'

However neighbours described hearing five or six loud bangs that caused the ceiling to shake above their living room the night before paramedics were called to Wilson’s home in Windsor.

The judge said today that the bangs were so loud, 'the neighbours thought the kid was going to come through the floor'.

In cross examination prosecutor Paul Dunkels QC said: ‘It couldn’t have been your eldest child, climbing up the furniture and jumping off.

‘Their evidence was they [the bangs] were seconds apart. He wouldn’t have been able to get up, jump off it and climb up it again.’

Today Wilson was jailed for life, with the judge ordering a minimum of 14 years.

Judge Stephen Kramer QC told her: 'You are adept at lying and displayed a total lack of emotion throughout the trial.

'The neighbours thought the kid was going to come through the floor'

'You must have been the person who caused his injuries.'

He added: 'You were clearly a good mother to your other son but for some reason you rejected Callum and acted against him.

'Callum was vulnerable and you must have been the person who caused him the injuries which in the last 10 to 14 days of his life made him so miserable which the court saw in photographs, that for some reason you took.'

Callum had only been in his mother’s care for four months before his death, having spent the first seven months of his short life in care.

Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us