Two jailed over torture death of baby boy

LONDON (Reuters) - Two people who tortured a 16-month-old baby boy to death, causing him "unimaginable agony," were jailed on Friday under a new law.

Unemployed Abid Ikram, 31, and his partner Sumaira Parveen, 24, of Acton in West London, were acquitted of murder but found guilty of causing or allowing the death of Ikram's son, Talha, who died in September 2006.

The pair maintained their innocence throughout their Southwark Crown Court trial but were convicted under the law, introduced in 2004, that does not require the prosecution to prove which defendant actually carried out the fatal act.

Talha Ikram was pronounced dead on arrival at Central Middlesex Hospital in Acton in September 2006. A post mortem found the toddler to have numerous bruises and abrasions as well as a broken leg and a laceration behind the knee.

Detective Inspector Colin Welsh said that Talha had suffered a catalogue of injuries which must have caused him unimaginable agony and distress.

"Throughout the trial Ikram and Parveen cynically maintained their innocence, both knowing that their actions had cost the life of a vulnerable 16-month-old toddler," he said.

"Abid Ikram and Sumaira Parveen have been brought to justice for the death of a child without the individual who actually inflicted the fatal act being identified.

"The circumstances of this case are the exact reasons why this legislation was created. This is one of the first convictions since this legislation was brought in."

Ikram was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for causing or allowing Talha's death and to 12 months for perverting the course of justice.

Parveen, who fled to Pakistan while on police bail but was arrested when trying to re-enter the country in November 2006, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment and will be deported after she has served her sentence.