A Nigerian man Marvyn Iheanacho has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years, after he was found guilty and sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court by Judge Mark Dennis QC. He battered a five-year-old to death in a park for losing a trainer. The 39 years old flew into a rage and subjected his girlfriend's son, Alex Malcolm, to a brutal attack in a Mountsfield Park in Catford, south-east London.
The Judge said that the child killer has a "deeply entrenched character flaw" that leads him to overreact and lose his temper. He said it is apparent that Iheanacho, from Hounslow, Middlesex, has a "deeply entrenched character flaw", adding: "One that leads you to overreact and lose your temper."
Judge Dennis said that when the violence had subsided, Iheanacho's thought turned to "protecting yourself and trying to cover up" what had happened. "Only this time the consequences of your violence were more serious than ever before," he said.
The judge added: "You used your undoubted strength and simple brute force."
He said he was a "strong and overpowering figure" next to Alex who was "completely defenceless", adding: "The child had done nothing that would justify any loss of temper, never mind a violent loss of temper."
The judge said Iheanacho had given fake and misleading accounts to paramedics, hospital staff and police. "All this to protect yourself and cover up what you had done," he said. Iheanacho has a string of previous convictions for violent offences, including attacks on ex-partners and robbery.
The judge said: “Sadly the truth appears to be you simply can’t help yourself.” Iheanacho was sentenced to 18 years but, due to time served on remand, the judge said he would serve at least 17 years and 119 days.
Alex suffered fatal head and stomach injuries and died 3 days later in the hospital.
