07 March 2024 , 14:48
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The grandparents of a two-year-old boy have appeared in court charged with his murder.
Ethan Ives Griffiths, from Garden City in north Wales, was found injured at Michael and Kerry Ives' home on August 14, 2021, Mold Crown Court was told. The boy was taken to Liverpool's Alder Hey hospital but later died.
Michael Ives, 46, and Kerry Ives, 45, appeared in court via video link on Wednesday and only spoke to confirm their names. The couple, on remand at HMP Berwyn and HMP Styal respectively, have been charged with murder as well as assault and neglect. No formal pleas were entered during the 30-minute hearing.
Judge Rhys Rowlands remanded the defendants in custody pending a plea and trial preparation hearing scheduled for May 17. A trial will be held later this year, initially scheduled for November 4.
The judge told the defendants, both of Kingsley Road, the trial would likely last at least three weeks. Ethan's mother Shannon Kayleigh Ives, 27, of Mold, is charged with causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical harm. She was also charged with causing assault, ill-treatment, neglect or abandonment of a child to cause unnecessary suffering or injury.
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She has been bailed to appear in court on April 4, . All three defendants will appear together at Mold Crown Court on 17 May.