Grandfather accused of murder 'disgusted' in himself for the 'neglect of toddler'

HE AND WIFE DENY MURDER OF TWO-YEAR-OLD ETHAN

- By ALEX HICKEY AND ELEANOR BARLOW

A MAN accused of murdering his two-year-old grandson has admitted being cruel and neglectful to the toddler, and told a court he was “disgusted” in himself.

Michael Ives, 47, denied he or his wife Kerry Ives, 46, inflicted a severe head injury on Ethan Ives-Griffiths before he collapsed at their home in Flintshire on August 14 2021.

Ethan, who had been staying at his grandparents’ house in Garden City with his mother Shannon Ives, 28, died in hospital two days later having suffered catastrophic head injuries, a jury has heard.

Under cross-examination by Caroline Rees KC, prosecuting, at Mold Crown Court on Tuesday, Ives said he felt “sick” about letting Ethan decline while he lived with them.

He accepted that he neglected Ethan and that the way he carried him, by his upper arm, was cruel - but he denied mistreating him in other ways.