A “callous and wretched” mother and stepfather are facing life sentences for murdering a four-year-old schoolboy who was systematically starved under the noses of his teachers and health professionals.
The “incomprehensible” murder of Daniel Pelka by Magdelena Luczak and Mariusz Krezolek, which has chilling echoes of the 2007 death of 17-month-old Baby P, is the subject of a serious case review.
Jurors took under four hours to unanimously convict Luczak and Krezolek following a nine-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court.
The couple battered Daniel to death after a six-month campaign of cruelty in which he was denied food, “imprisoned” in a locked box room and force-fed salt.
Both originally from Poland, the pair also forced Daniel to perform arduous punishment exercises such as squats or running, while hoodwinking teachers and doctors into believing his weight loss was due to an eating disorder.
The boy’s murder occurred weeks after teaching staff saw him with bruising to his neck and black eyes.
Krezolek and Luczak, face mandatory life terms when they are sentenced tomorrow. – (PA)