Ethan Ives-Griffiths: Killer gran's stone-cold reaction as cops close in on web of lies
After learning she was being arrested for the murder of her two-year-old grandson, Ethan Ives-Griffiths, evil grandmother Kerry Ives responded with a short, cold question
A wicked grandmother who murdered her two-year-old grandson asked police officers a chilling question as they closed in on her web of lies, it can be revealed.
Kerry Ives and her husband, Michael Ives, have today been sentenced after being found guilty of the 'brutal' murder of toddler Ethan Ives-Griffiths, in August 2021.
Mr Ives has been sentenced to a minimum of 23 years in prison for Ethan's murder, and has also been given nine years for child cruelty, to be served concurrently. Mrs Ives will serve a minimum term of 17 years in custody for Ethan's murder, and has also been sentenced to six years for child cruelty, which will run concurrently.
The judge stated that he would impose a sentence of 12 years on Ethan's mother, Shannon Ives, for allowing her son to die. On the count of child cruelty, the judge informed the court that the sentence would be five years, to run concurrently. Ms Ives was told she will serve two-thirds of her 12-year sentence behind bars, before being released on licence.
The couple tried to portray themselves as worried grandparents after tormenting and fatally injuring little Ethan. In a disturbing 999 call, they tried to claim that the unresponsive toddler had 'fallen over' while watching television at their home in Flintshire, North Wales.
READ MORE: Family call for 'Ethan's Law' after toddler, 2, murdered by his grandparentsBut the horrific truth about little Ethan's final hours soon unravelled, and on September 2, 2021, Mrs Ives was informed she was under arrest.
The tragic two-year-old died of a fatal head injury, which was the result of deliberate use of force that may have included an element of forceful shaking. Abdominal injuries consistent with forceful blows were also discovered.
And now newly released police bodycam footage shows the moment that Ethan's evil gran learned that she was being arrested for murder, with police turning up on her doorstep.
The killer appeared bleary-eyed as she answered the door in what appeared to be her pyjamas. Ives then looked on blankly when an officer informed her, "Kerry, you're currently under arrest on suspicion of murder." In response, the killer gran simply replied, "Who?"
As cuffs were slapped on her wrists and her phone seized, Mrs Ives' then asked: "Can I get dressed?"
During the defendants' trial, Mold Crown Court heard how the couple had sought to blame Ethan's death on their daughter, his mum Shannon Ives, who was also found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child and cruelty towards Ethan.
On August 13, the day before Ethan's fatal collapse, Mr Ives said he'd been in the living room when he heard a loud bang. He then turned and saw Ethan "lying on the floor", still and "just staring" for a couple of minutes before he came round and "seemed fine."
Mr Ives claimed he told his daughter "we need to try and [take] him to the doctor's." She said she would have contaced them, but there weren't any appointments. Ethan was later taken shopping, and when pressed by the prosecution to explain why they felt that was a good idea, Mr Ives repliedm "Ethan wanted to come."
The following evening, Ethan had a red mark on the coroner of his eyebrow after he had been in the bedroom with his mum. When asked how it happened, she told him "he probably fell."
Prosecutor Caroline Rees KC told the court that on the night of August 14, when Ethan sustained his fatal injury, the child had been downstairs with his grandparents while his mother was upstairs on the phone. That night, Ethan had been watching television when he collapsed again.
Mrs Ives said she shouted for her daughter to come downstairs to help, to which she replied she would be down "in two minutes" as she was on her phone. According to Mrs Ives, she then swore at her daughter and said "never mind two minutes, he’s your baby".
Jurors heard that little Ethan was taken to the Countess of Chester Hospital before being transferred to Alder Hey Children's Hospital for brain surgery. Tragically, he was pronounced dead at 6 pm on August 16. He had "serious, catastrophic head injuries" and was found to be "severely underweight" and "covered in bruises", the court heard.
The jury was told Ethan weighed just 10kg, or 22lb, when he died, and following a post-mortem examination, 40 external injuries were observed.
Devastating CCTV footage taken outside the family home also showed the abuse Ethan suffered in the final weeks of his life. In one video, his mother could be seen "standing by, totally unconcerned whilst Ethan was ill-treated and handled by her father in a totally inhumane way", Ms Rees said.
In clips shown to the court, Mr Ives could be seen carrying Ethan by the top of his arm, :dangling him like a rag doll" and appearing to hit out at him after placing him into the backseat of a car.
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