Couple found guilty in role of killing two-year-old Kyrell Matthews

A man has been found guilty of murdering his partner’s two-year-old son after the child was found to have had 41 rib fractures in the month before his death.

Kyrell Matthews died October 20, 2019, after a cardiac arrest at his home in Thornton Heath.

He had a 4cm cut on his liver, probably as a result of squeezing, crushing or blows, and had five broken ribs.

A post mortem found that Kyrell had been subjected to repeated assaults over a long period of time.

Today at the Old Bailey 28-year-old Kemar Brown of Bensham Manor Road, Thornton Heath, was found guilty of murder. 

He was also found guilty of causing or allowing serious physical harm to a child.

Kyrell’s mother, Phylesia Shirley, 24, also of Bensham Manor Road, Thornton Heath was found guilty of manslaughter.

She had previously pleaded guilty on the first day of her trial on Monday, January 17 to allowing the death of a child, and allowing serious physical harm to a child.

His Honour Judge Lucraft told Brown and Shirley that they must feel ‘utterly ashamed’ of what they had done.

Kyrell’s family said: “You were robbed of the life God had intended for you. 

“Our family has been robbed of the joys of watching you grow up and seeing what you would have become. 

“You have left a void in our hearts that will never be filled. We carry you in our hearts forever.”

The court heard how at about 3pm on Sunday, October 20, 2019, Shirley phoned the non-emergency NHS helpline and told them Kyrell was ill. 

She was advised to carry out CPR, but when an ambulance arrived just 12 minutes later, they could not detect a heartbeat.

Kyrell was rushed to hospital but was pronounced dead at 4.15pm.

As a result of the post-mortem findings, a murder investigation was launched.

Police seized Shirley’s phone where they found multiple recordings of Kyrell being abused.

Detective Chief Inspector Kate Kieran, of the Met’s Specialist Crime, said: “This was a horrific case and the injuries inflicted on Kyrell were truly appalling. 

“It is impossible to understand how someone can brutalise a child in this way. 

“This was not some sudden loss of temper – these injuries show that the abuse of Kyrell went on and on. 

“It was during one final brutal assault that Kyrell’s sad, short life was brought to an end.”

Brown and Shirley will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday, March 25.