Two-year-old Ethan Ives-Griffiths died from devastating head injuries while staying at his grandparents’ home in Flintshire, North Wales. His grandparents, Michael and Kerry Ives, are accused of murdering him and subjecting him to ongoing abuse and neglect. Both deny the charges, as does Ethan’s mother, Shannon Ives, who is charged with allowing his death and child cruelty.

Ethan had been placed on the child protection register just weeks before his death in August 2021. He was found severely underweight, bruised, and withdrawn. Prosecutors described his time in his grandparents’ care as filled with suffering, neglect, and “casual brutality.”

On the night of his death, Shannon was upstairs on her phone. Prosecutors say she wasn’t the one who harmed Ethan but failed to protect him, despite knowing her parents were abusive. She told police she was terrified of them and had seen them shake Ethan in anger before.

Michael and Kerry claimed Ethan collapsed suddenly, but prosecutors say they worked together to hide the truth, waiting nearly 20 minutes before calling for help. Ethan was rushed to the hospital, but despite emergency surgery, he died later that day.

His short life, marked by fear and pain, is now at the center of a heartbreaking trial seeking justice for a little boy who should have been safe in the care of those who loved him.