UK: Woman, Former Partner Handed Life Sentence for Murder of Her 18-month-old Son

A woman and her former partner were handed life sentences for the murder of her 18-month-old son in November 2020. The court said the toddler, Alfie Phillips, had been the victim of “a lengthy night of violence”.

According to a report published by the BBC, Alfie died on November 28, 2020 with more than 70 visible wounds and traces of cocaine in his body. His mother, Sian Hedges, was sentenced to a minimum term of 19 years while 35-year-old Jack Benham got a minimum term of 23 years.

In his sentencing remarks, the presiding judge said Alfie had been the victim of a “frenzied attack” on the night of his death. “You were Alfie’s mother and he deserved your protection,” the BBC quoted the judge as saying.

Alfie’s father, Sam Phillips, described him as “good as gold” and “lively”, adding that he had been “robbed of the opportunity to see him grown up”. “The funeral was one of the hardest days of my life. The images of his tiny coffin will stay with me forever,” he was quoted as saying.

Hedges and Benham murdered Alfie overnight during the Covid lockdown inside a caravan. The nine-week trial, which ended on November 30, 2023, established that both defendants had been complicit in the crime.

Alfie suffered fractures to his ribs, arms and leg; on his lips and mouth were signs that he was smothered along with traces of cocaine in his body.

The BBC report said Hedges went to buy drugs from their friend and repay a debt, and also get mixers and drinks for their evening in the caravan. In court, Benham told the jury that he bit Alfie in the back and shook him in an effort to revive him when he found him unresponsive the morning after.

Hedges, however, said she had not deliberately beaten Alfie and, when asked if she had seen Benham murder Alfie, she replied in the negative.

During the trial, it was established that Alfie had injuries even in the months prior to his death like a cut under his eye from playing with keys and his fingers being caught in the dog gate at Benham’s parents’ home.

“Alfie should have been protected and loved by his mum, instead Hedges and Benham inflicted unimaginable suffering on him during a sustained and lengthy night of violence,” Det Ch Insp Kathleen Way of Kent Police was quoted as saying.