Press release

Child killer gets longer life sentence

Marvyn Iheanacho who killed a 5 year old boy has had his sentence increased by 3 years after representation at the Court of Appeal by the Solicitor General

Solicitor General

Solicitor General

A violent offender who killed a 5 year old boy has had his sentence increased by 3 years after representation at the Court of Appeal by the Solicitor General.

Marvyn Iheanacho, 39, was convicted on 21 July 2017 at Woolwich Crown Court of the murder of his stepson Alex Malcolm. The Court originally sentenced him to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 18 years. Today, this unduly lenient sentence was increased to a minimum term of 21 years.

Iheanacho had beaten the little boy unconscious after the child left one of his shoes in the playground in Mountsfield Park, south London. The offender failed to seek medical help for Alex and then sought to prevent Alex’s mother calling an ambulance. He later lied to medical staff about how the serious brain and abdominal injuries had been caused.

Robert Buckland QC MP, the Solicitor General presented the case to the Court of Appeal and is pleased with the result:

The unspeakable violence that this young boy was subject to is truly appalling. Iheanacho then deliberately withheld medical care from the 5 year old and consistently lied to everyone about how the injuries were caused. As a result, a vulnerable little boy was murdered by someone in a position of trust. I hope the increased sentence gives some comfort to Alex Malcolm’s family.

Published 17 October 2017