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NATIONAL OUTCRY

What happened to Baby P?

Baby P died after suffering eight months of abuse

PETER CONNELLY was the victim of abuse by his parents and sadly passed away at 17 months.

This is what happened to Baby P.

 Baby P - Peter Connelly - death at the hand of his parents
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Baby P - Peter Connelly - death at the hand of his parents

What happened to Baby P?

The heart-breaking brutality of the abuse suffered by Peter Connelly - known as Baby P - in the months before his death appalled Britain.

Baby P was born to mum Tracey Connelly in March 2006 and died at her Tottenham home after suffering a catalogue of injuries on August 3, 2007.

Two months after Peter's birth Connelly started a relationship with Steven Barker at whose hands the tot would suffer appalling abuse.

Peter was admitted to the hospital with injuries on several occasions and his mum was arrested twice.

But a day after Tracey was told she would not face prosecution, the 17-month-old was found dead in a blood-stained cot.

Peter had suffered more than 50 injuries over eight months and had been seen by a string of social workers, the Metropolitan Police and health professionals.

They all missed warning signs that could have saved the toddler's life - with it later being revealed that the tot's devious carers had smeared him with chocolate before visits to hide bruises and cuts.

The abuse included repeatedly choking the 17-month-old until he turned blue and encouraging a Rottweiler to attack him.

A post-mortem examination later revealed that he had probably already suffered a broken back and fractured ribs

A court ruled that Baby P died at the hands of his mother, her boyfriend Barker, and his brother Jason Owen - who had moved into their home with a 15-year-old girl.

Who killed Baby P?

Peter's mum Tracey Connelly pleaded guilty to causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable person in 2008.

Her former boyfriend Steven Barker and his brother Jason Owen were both found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable person following their trials.

What inquiries followed the death of Baby P?

Two days after verdicts were delivered in the Baby P case, in November 2008, Children's Minister Ed Balls ordered an enquiry into the role of the local authority, NHS trust and police in the death of Peter Connelly.

The leader of Haringey's children's services later resigned along with the cabinet member with responsibility for the department.

The council's director of children's services Sharon Shoesmith was sacked, along with a social worker and three managers.

Shoesmith later successfully appealed to her sacking and published a book about the case.

A GP who saw Baby P 14 times was suspended by the General Medical Council, with the NHS was criticised by the Care Quality Commission for the failings in its care of the tot.

Where are Baby P's killers now?

Tracey Connelly was handed an indefinite sentence and told she would serve at least five years behind bars.

She was released in October 2013 but put back inside a year and a half later after facing charges she'd broken the terms of her release by selling nude photos of herself online.

She requested parole in 2015, 2017 and 2019.

Officials ruled that she was still a danger to the public.

She was expected to face at least two more years in the high security prison HMP Low Newton.

Connelly went to the Parole Board panel in October 2021 but was denied a Christmas release.

But her final parole request was granted on March 30, 2022.

On May 5, 2022, it was announced that the Government challenged the Parole Board to keep Tracey Connelly in prison, but the action was denied.

The Parole Board was asked to consider this decision by Justice Secretary Dominic Raab who said that her actions were "pure evil" and admitted that the board "needs a fundamental overhaul - including a ministerial check for the most serious offenders," after reaching such a decision.

Steven Barker was sentenced to a minimum sentence of 12 years for the death of Baby P.

In March 2021, Barker had his parole bid denied for refusing to confront his crimes.

Barker is also serving a life sentence, with a minimum of 10 years, for raping a two-year-old.

Jason Owen went to jail in 2009 with a six-year sentence to serve.

He was released in 2011 after serving three years but later returned to prison after breaching his bail conditions.

It was reported that he was given a new identity to protect him from vigilante justice.

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