The son of Michael and Kerry Ives told a murder trial that he would be punched on his legs and arms at least once a week
The son of a couple accused of murdering their two-year-old grandson has told how they would punch and belt him when he was growing up. Josh Ives, who gave evidence at Mold Crown Court on Thursday, said physical discipline had been used by his parents when he and his sister Shannon were young.
Kerry Ives, 46, and Michael Ives, 47, are accused of killing toddler Ethan Ives-Griffiths, who collapsed at their home in Garden City, Deeside, Flintshire, on August 14, 2021, and died in hospital two days later.
Ethan, who was living at the home with his mother, Shannon, suffered “catastrophic head injuries” and was severely underweight when he died.
Josh told the court they would punch his legs and arms. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here
Caroline Rees KC, prosecuting, asked: “How often would you be punched by your parents?”
Mr Ives replied: “Not that often, once a week.”
He said on rare occasions they used a belt to hit him.
He also said his parents would squeeze his wrist or slap him on the back of the head.
He added: “For a kid it would hurt but I wouldn’t say it was excessive.”
Mr Ives said the use of physical force stopped when he was between 10 and 12.
He said he moved out of the family home in May 2021, when he was about 23, following an argument about his girlfriend and dog living there.
He told the court following Ethan’s death he had kept away from his family, adding: “I’m not speaking to any of them.”
Josh Ives’ partner Jessica Weaver told the court Shannon had spoken to her about how her father would discipline Ethan.
“She said that Mike would make Ethan stand with his legs apart, his feet shoulder-width apart with his hands on his head,” she told the court.
She said the punishment happened at about 5am.
Ms Weaver added: “He had stated that Ethan had kept him up all night so he was going to do the same to Ethan.”
Earlier in the day, the court heard from Aaron Moss, partner of Kerry and Michael Ives’ daughter, Rachel.
Mr Moss said Ethan and his mother had stayed with them in 2021 before moving to her parents’ house.
He told the jury he would hear Ethan “whinging, like babies do” from the next room.
Asked how Shannon Ives would react to her son, he said: “She used to tell him to shut up and go back to bed.”
He also described hearing a “thud” from the room on one occasion which he said sounded like she had “forcefully put Ethan back in his cot”.
On the evening of August 14, he said he went to the Ives’ home after he was told Ethan was being taken to hospital and saw the toddler lying on the floor “not moving, not breathing, eyes closed”.
Asked if he could remember anything about what Shannon was doing, he said: “I can remember her asking for a filter for a cigarette.
“She was alright, she was normal.”
Michael and Kerry Ives, of Kingsley Road, Garden City, deny murder, an alternative count of causing or allowing the death of a child and cruelty to a person under 16.
Shannon Ives, of Nant Garmon, Mold, denies causing or allowing the death of a child and cruelty to a person under 16.