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Demi Leigh Mahon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On July 15, Demi's drug addict mother Ann McDonald, left her daughter with Karl McCluney while she went to collect a child benefit cheque. It was McCluney's 15th birthday and he quickly became enraged when Demi began crying. Defenseles Demi was punched in her face, kicked and bitten. She suffered at least 68 separate injuries. McCluney did not call an ambulance or call for help as Demi lay dying instead he continued to watch TV. When Demi mother returned an hour and a half later, Demi was barely breathing. The assault was so vicious she was left brain damaged and died two days later in hospital.

 

An independent report found that social workers should have taken action. They knew that Demi was being raised in a drug den. Members of the public and neighbors had told children's services that the child was left crying a lot and that her mother, was injecting heroin and was unable to care for her. Police had reports of domestic abuse. Yet at no point did social services intervene, and Demi was never placed on the 'at risk' register.

 

McCluney admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility but the jury rejected this claim and convicted him of murder and sentenced to 15 Years.

 

Unknown - July 17, 2008

 

Age: 2 Years

Location: North Carolina

Suspect in death: Karl McCluney, Babysitter

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