Father guilty of daughter's murder

Published: Tuesday, 21 October 2008, 11:29PM

A man has been found guilty of murdering his daughter who died after her spine was "snapped in two".

James Howson, 25, from Doncaster, showed no emotion as the verdict was read out at the Leeds Crown Court.

Howson was found guilty of holding his 16-month-daughter over his knee and exerting so much pressure that it broke her back in two.

The court was told that the child, who was malnourished and dehydrated, was also covered in fractures and bruises from a number of other assaults.

He was also found guilty of child cruelty by assaulting the girl.

The jury took just three-and-a-half hours to convict Howson.

The case has been adjourned until Friday when he will be sentenced alongside his partner Tina Hunt, 26, who earlier admitted allowing the death of a child and child cruelty.

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