Parents at court accused of Christmas Day baby murder

TWO parents have appeared over video links from the respective prisons where they are being held after being charged with murdering their 10-month old son.

Dressed in a grey tracksuit at HMP Foston Hall, Shannon Marsden clutched her knees close to her chest for the short hearing at Derby Crown Court.

Her partner Stephen Boden also wore a grey sweatshirt from where he is being held at HMP Nottingham.

Both spoke only to confirm their names and no details of the alleged killing were revealed to the court.

No application was made for bail in respect of either defendant.

Boden, 29 and Marsden, 21, have jointly been charged with the murder of their son Finley on December 25, 2020 at an address in Holland Road, Old Whittington, Chesterfield.

In a statement, Derbyshire police last week said: “Paramedics were called to a house in Old Whittington in the early hours of Christmas Day 2020, to reports that a ten-month-old boy was unresponsive. The baby, Finley Boden, was taken to hospital but was sadly pronounced dead.

“Our thoughts remain with Finley’s family at this very distressing time.”

Boden, of Romford Way, Barrow Hill, Chesterfield, and Marsden, of no fixed address, have also both been charged with assault, neglect or abandonment of their son between November 17 and Christmas Day last year.

The couple are also jointly charged with possession with intent to supply cannabis and supplying cannabis between October 16, 2020 and February 13 of this year.

They will next appear at Derby Crown Court on February 4.