Parents jailed following murder of baby son

A couple who left the country while under investigation for the murder of their eight-month-old son have been jailed for their roles in his death.

Emmanuel Turner was today (Wednesday) sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 22 years for the murder of his son, Devaun Rose-Turner, in December 2021.

Shandies Rose, Devaun’s mother, was found not guilty of murder but convicted of manslaughter, and was jailed for 12 years.

During the trial, the court heard how their son had suffered more than 80 separate injuries during the eight weeks leading up to his death.

Emergency services were called to the family home at around 7am on 11 December 2021 after Turner reported Devaun was not breathing. He was taken to hospital but died later that morning.

A murder investigation was launched by the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit in January 2022 after medical examinations identified serious injuries that raised significant concerns.

Detectives worked closely with medical and forensic experts to piece together the circumstances surrounding the death, with the extent and pattern of injuries indicating repeated episodes of physical abuse.

Investigators also established that Devaun had been in the sole care of his parents throughout that period.

The pair were arrested on suspicion of murder in 2022 but were released under investigation as detectives continued to build the evidential case.

However, in August 2022, officers learned Turner and Rose had travelled to Nigeria, despite the investigation remaining ongoing.

They eventually returned to the UK on 10 May 2025, where they were met by arresting officers at the airport and subsequently charged and remanded into custody.

Turner, 34, and Rose, 29, both of Hurstbourne Road, London, were also both convicted of causing or allowing a child to suffer significant harm. They were sentenced to eight years and seven years respectively, to run concurrently.

When sentencing, the judge, the Honourable Mrs Justice Farbey KC, said: "Both of you knew about his pain. Both of you decided to keep it hidden so he received no medical help."

Detective Inspector Lee Martin, who led the investigation, said: “This was a complex and deeply challenging investigation into the sustained abuse and tragic death of a baby behind closed doors. 

“From the outset, our focus was on establishing exactly what happened to Devaun and securing justice for him, with our team working tirelessly to ensure he was given a voice.

“Nothing can undo what happened to him, but today’s sentence reflects the persistence of our officers in ensuring that those who should have cared and protected for him have been held accountable for the abuse he suffered. 

“Our thoughts will always remain with Devaun - sleep well, little man.”