A British court has jailed a couple who fled to Nigeria while under investigation over the death of their eight-month-old son, bringing to an end a case that shocked the United Kingdom and drew widespread media attention.
At Luton Crown Court on Wednesday, 34-year-old Emmanuel Turner was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 22 years for the murder of his son, Devaun Rose Turner. The child’s mother, 29-year-old Shandies Rose, was cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 12 years in prison.
The case attracted significant coverage from major British and international media outlets including the BBC, Sky News, The Independent and PA Media because of the severity of the abuse and the couple’s decision to leave the country while police investigations were ongoing.
The court heard that Devaun died on 11 December 2021 after emergency services were called to the family home in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire. Despite being rushed to hospital, the infant was pronounced dead later that day.
The Africa Media reports that medical experts found that the baby had suffered more than 80 separate injuries during the final eight weeks of his life. Prosecutors said the injuries were consistent with repeated physical abuse over an extended period, including injuries inflicted only hours before his death.
Sentencing the pair, Mrs Justice Farbey said both parents were aware of the child’s suffering but failed to seek medical assistance. “Both of you knew about his pain. Both of you decided to keep it hidden so he received no medical help,” she told the court.
Investigators established that Devaun had been exclusively in the care of his parents throughout the period when the injuries occurred. Although Turner and Rose were arrested in 2022 on suspicion of murder, they were released while detectives continued gathering evidence.
Police later discovered that the couple had travelled to Nigeria in August 2022 despite the active investigation. They remained abroad for nearly three years before returning to Britain in May 2025, when officers arrested them at the airport and formally charged them.
Both were also convicted of causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical harm. Turner received an additional eight year sentence and Rose seven years, to run concurrently with their primary sentences.
Detective Inspector Lee Martin described the investigation as complex and emotionally challenging, saying officers were determined to secure justice for Devaun. He said the sentence ensured those responsible for the baby’s suffering had finally been held accountable.
