Couple found guilty over death of defenceless 13-month-old boy who was battered so badly his wounds suggested he’d fallen from a building
Baby was subjected to 'utter cruelty' by pair who chose 'drug and alcohol-fuelled life' over his happiness
AN evil couple have been found guilty over the death of a helpless baby they subjected to an "utterly cruel" campaign of abuse - with the boyfriend eventually murdering the boy by smacking his head against a hard surface.
Noah Serra-Morrison was found dead on November 21 last year after suffering 24 fractures to his body - including a 6in wound across his skull.
Noah's vile mum Ronnie Tayler-Morrison and her baby murdering partner Hardeep Hunjan are said to have chosen a "drug and alcohol-fuelled lifestyle over his happiness".
The cruel couple even made Noah pose for a photo with a joint behind his ear.
After the baby's death medical experts said he had a "catalogue of injuries" so severe they were similar to those suffered in a car crash or a fall from a building.
He was eventually killed after succumbing to a "massive head injury" when Hunjan slammed his head against a surface.
Detective Inspector Fraser Wylie from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit
"Rarely do we come across a case that involves such sheer malice and utter cruelty against a small child"
His heartless mum and her thug boyfriend waited an hour and 42 minutes before calling emergency services to try and save Noah.
Tayler-Morrison searched for "my baby is hurt" on the internet and also typed in "my baby is breathing but not moving".
She also called her sister in flood of tears claiming Noah had fallen from his cot.
More than an hour later Tayler-Morrison dialled 999 and can be heard repeatedly saying "he's not breathing" and "he fell out of his cot and he's not breathing".
The operator tells her to give Noah mouth-to-mouth before the mum can be heard blowing during the call.
She also was talked through giving Noah chest compressions and can be heard crying throughout.
Noah was confirmed dead at 4.10am at Luton and Dunstable Hospital on November 21 last year.
An osteoarticular pathologist noted how nine of Noah's injuries were caused during the last six weeks of his life.
A jury at Luton Crown Court took 10 hours to unanimously find her partner Hunjan, 27, guilty of murder.
Tayler-Morrison, 22, was cleared of the same charge.
The twisted couple, of Luton, Bedfordshire, were each found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child and of cruelty to a child under 16.
The pair maintain that Noah sustained the injuries as a result of falling from his cot - something the prosecution claimed was impossible.
They will be sentenced at Luton Crown Court on Friday afternoon.
After the verdicts Noah's grief-stricken father Stefano Coiana said: "When Noah was alive he made my life happy. It wasn't his job to make me happy but he did. He did it by just being here.
"He completed my life - he made life worth being here, worth waking up in the morning and worth trying again and again even when I failed.";
Mr Coiana described Noah as "the most important thing" to him and added: "I had someone that loved me and I loved him.
"It was good to love Noah. He loved me unconditionally - what can you say to describe how that feels?
"It was just so very, very good. I don't see a lot in my future without him."
I don't see life without him and as much as this sounds selfish I know that I love Noah but I love (Hardeep) more
A shocking entry from Ronnie Tayler-Morrison's diary
Tayler-Morrison's mother Varsha Patel, Noah's grandmother, said she would remember "Nolly" as a "happy and smiley baby and a pleasure to be with at all times".
She added: "His early departure on the 21 November 2015 has left a massive void in our lives as he was loved by all of us. Nolly will be greatly missed but never forgotten. He will always remain in our hearts forever and ever. Our loss, heaven's gain."
The lives of Tayler-Morrison and her boyfriend Hardeep Hunjan were fuelled by alcohol and cannabis and based on "love, jealousy and control", prosecutor Jane Bickerstaff QC told Luton Crown Court during their trial.
Among her handwritten diary entries in 2015, Tayler-Morrison wrote: "I don't see life without him and as much as this sounds selfish I know that I love Noah but I love H more."
She also wrote in her diary: "So he got rude and I left him and bought Noah home. He turned up at my door, strangled me, threw me around, smacked a bottle on my head, broke the fish tank. Called me a wanna be model, slag and lots of other things. I hate him right now."
The jury was shown another diary entry in which Tayler-Morrison said: "I don't care what has happened all I no is that I still want him.
"Why am I so crazy about him. I'm sitting on the living floor and all I feel right now is ugly, wasted away, unwanted and unneeded. He said it himself, this is why I don't get along with anyone, further more this is why no1 wants to get along with me, and I bet its the same with him.
"Just like the few close people I've had. One day he will leave me to."
Prosecutor Jane Bickerstaff QC had told the court that Noah's injuries were likely to have been caused by him being deliberately and violently swung against a wall or floor, or by his limbs being twisted with ''severe force''.
Hunjan and Tayler-Morrison both said they did not know how Noah was killed but, if he had been murdered, then the other person was to blame.
Prosecutor Jane Bickerstaff QC had told the court that Noah's injuries were likely to have been caused by him being deliberately and violently swung against a wall or floor, or by his limbs being twisted with ''severe force''.
Hunjan and Tayler-Morrison both said they did not know how Noah was killed but, if he had been murdered, then the other person was to blame.
Detective Inspector Fraser Wylie from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit said Noah's murder is one of the most sickening cases they had ever come across.
He said: "Rarely do we come across a case that involves such sheer malice and utter cruelty against a small child, by two people who were supposed to love and care for him.
"Throughout this case the disregard shown by both Tayler-Morrison - Noah's own mother - and Hunjan has been evident, not least in the fact they attempted to evade justice by attempting to flee to Scotland whilst on bail.
"Poor Noah experienced fear, pain, neglect and extreme brutality during his too-short life.
"No child deserves that, and it has been evident throughout our investigation and the trial that Tayler-Morrison and "Hunjan chose a tumultuous, drug and alcohol-fuelled lifestyle over his happiness and welfare.
Serious case review underway to see if lessons can be learned after Noah's death
A multi-agency serious case review, which involves more than one local authority, is examining the dealings social services had with Noah, his mother, and everyone else involved with the tragic.
The review is being lead by Luton Borough Council's Luton's Safeguarding Children Board.
Fran Pearson, Independent Chair, Luton Safeguarding Children Board, said: "Luton Safeguarding Children Board has commissioned a serious case review (SCR) to scrutinise the actions and decisions of the organisations that had contact with the child and his parents. It will establish whether there are lessons to be learnt from the case regarding the way professionals and agencies work together to safeguard children at risk. The review will not be concluded until the criminal proceedings have been completed, as any new evidence presented will need to be considered."
Detective Inspector Wylie added: "Little Noah suffered unimaginably as a result of the volatility of his mother's relationship with Hunjan, who today has been convicted of the little boy's murder.
"Even in his death he was denied any dignity by being left to suffer for more than an hour.
"This has truly been one of the most shocking and sickening cases of violence we have ever come across, and I would like to thank my tenacious, dedicated team of investigators who have worked so hard in all hours of the day and night to bring this traumatic case to a resolution.
"Though nothing can ever bring back their beautiful boy, I hope today's verdict can bring some semblance of peace for Noah's wider family."