Couple who claimed baby died from ghosts injuries jailed

A young couple fell into in troubled waters and has been jailed, over the death of an infant left in their care, which they claim died after being injured by ghosts which had possessed him.
Czech-born Santino Balaz, was 14 months old when he died on New Year’s Day, after suffering a catalogue of extensive injuries and neglect.
The infant was being looked after by his half-sister, Tereza Lackova, aged 20, and her 27-year-old partner Marek Holub, in Balsall Heath, Birmingham, at the time of his death.
Holub was jailed for life, to serve a minimum of 20 years, after pleading guilty to murder, child neglect and child cruelty.
Lackova was jailed for five years after admitting at Leicester Crown Court on October 20 to allowing the death of a child and child neglect.
Police were called to the address in Brighton Road on 1 January this year by ambulance staff who had responded to a call about a baby not breathing.
The boy was taken to Birmingham Children’s Hospital but despite attempts to resuscitate him he was pronounced dead a short time later.
Medical staff noticed Santino had a number of visible injuries, including bruises to his face, chest, legs and arms.
A post-mortem also revealed he had suffered numerous injuries and trauma for weeks before he died.

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Police arrested Lackova and Holub and subsequently charged them with Santino’s murder and causing or allowing the death of a child.
The pair, both Czech nationals, had claimed his injuries had been caused by ghosts or spirits haunting him in their flat.
Detective Inspector Justin Spanner said: “Santino was supposed to be in a safe environment and in the care of his own family, his sister and her boyfriend.
“The evidence tells us that Santino was assaulted on at least three occasions between November and New Year’s Day; these assaults ultimately led to his death.
“The couple claimed that either the spirit of Lackova’s grandmother who had died a short time ago or the death of the woman who occupied their flat before them had come back to injure Santino.
“We know from our enquiries that the pair had shared photos of Santino’s injuries on their Facebook accounts and claimed the ghosts had caused them; unfortunately no-one ever came forward to report concerns around these images.
“The death of one so young is always tragic but the agony that this young boy must have endured over his short life is truly dreadful, we can only take comfort in the fact that Tereza Lackova and Marek Holub are behind bars for a significant period.
Credit: Skynews

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