Toddler murder-accused grandparents hit son - court

The son of a couple accused of murdering their two-year-old grandson said he was was slapped and punched by his parents.

Ethan Ives-Griffiths, died from a catastrophic head injury in August 2021.

The toddler's grandparents, Michael Ives, 47, and Kerry Ives, 46, both of Garden City in Flintshire, are charged with murder, causing or allowing the death of a child, and cruelty to  a child.

Ethan's mother, Shannon Ives, 28, of Mold, Flintshire, is charged with causing or allowing the death of a child, and cruelty to a child. All three deny the charges.

When prosecutor Caroline Rees asked Josh Ives, son of Michael and Kerry Ives, if physical discipline was ever used, he replied "yeah".

When asked if it was his mum or dad, he replied "both".

He said they would "squeeze your wrist…. slap on the back of the head".

"It could be a slap on the leg, a slap on the bum," he added.

Mr Ives said for a child, it could hurt but would not say it was "excessive".

Asked if anything other than squeezing or slapping took place, he said: "Punches now and then", but not often.

"It would be to the legs or the arm," he added, saying that he and his three sisters, including Shannon Ives, were punched.

Mr Ives said that the punches occurred once a week and said that they had used a belt, but it was rare.

He said he could not remember which parent used the belt and it "was just on the bum from what I remember".

Asked how often the belt was used, he said: "Probably once or twice the whole time."

The physical discipline stopped when he was aged between 10 and 12, and he started confronting them and telling them to stop.

He moved out of the Ives' home several months before Ethan died in 2021.

The court also heard from Josh Ives' partner, Jessica Weaver.

She said Shannon Ives had told her of an occasion when her father had made Ethan stand with his legs apart, and his hands on his head.

Asked if any explanation had been given for the treatment, she said: "I think it was because he had stated that Ethan had kept him up all night and so he was going to do the same to Ethan."

The trial continues.