18-month-old Alfie Phillips was subjected to 70 injuries, cocaine in system, and a night of unthinkable violence

In a harrowing case that has shocked the nation, the mother and ex-partner of 18-month-old Alfie Phillips have been found guilty of his murder after a night of what was described as “violent discipline.” The little boy was beaten to death and smothered during an overnight attack fueled by whisky and cocaine. Sian Hedges, 27, and Jack Benham, 35, will now face life imprisonment for their horrific crime, which unfolded in Benham’s caravan in Hernhill, near Faversham, Kent.

Alfie Phillips was discovered in a tragic state on the morning of November 28, 2020, with paramedics noting that it was “immediately apparent” he had been dead for some time. The jury, after approximately 10 hours of deliberation, unanimously reached a guilty verdict, holding both defendants accountable for Alfie’s senseless murder.

Prosecutor Jennifer Knight KC revealed the grim details during the trial, stating, “It is clear that he had been deliberately injured on more than one occasion, culminating in an assault perpetrated on him during the night of 27 to 28 November 2020 that led to his death.”

The horrifying night involved a series of assaults, with Alfie suffering a multitude of injuries, including broken ribs, arms, legs, and traces of cocaine found in his system. Hedges and Benham were in the caravan together throughout the night, leading to the conclusion that both defendants actively participated in the assaults. The prosecution emphasized that, had either defendant not joined in, the other should have intervened to prevent the brutal attack.

Both defendants denied harming Alfie during the trial. Benham, who is not Alfie’s father, claimed he woke up with the toddler under his leg in bed, believing he had suffocated him. The court heard about older injuries Alfie sustained in the months leading up to his death, with explanations provided by the defendants, including a cut under Alfie’s eye from playing with keys and fingers caught in a dog gate.

Described as “good as gold” and “lively” by his father, Sam Phillips, Alfie was a playful and joyous toddler. The night before his tragic death, Benham described a seemingly normal evening of drinking and watching YouTube videos, a stark contrast to the prosecution’s assertion that this was when the violent assault occurred.

Sentencing for Benham, of Hernhill, Kent, and Hedges, of Yelverton, Devon, is scheduled for Tuesday, December 19. The NSPCC has expressed deep sorrow over Alfie’s fate, highlighting the vulnerability of very young children to abuse, especially when entrusted to the care of those who should protect them.