Finley Boden: Text from Derbyshire dad read “I’m going to seriously punch him if he don’t stop”

The message was sent from the phone shared by Boden and Shannon Marsden, Finley’s mother, in November 2020 – just a few weeks before baby Finley died on Christmas Day – complaining about the infant’s behaviour.

It read: “I’ve already slapped him for slapping me and Shan – we’ve had enough of his temper.”

Another text read: “Little one’s f****** kept me up all night – I wanna bounce him off the walls, LOL.”

The texts emerged during the second day of Marsden and Boden trial – they have both pleaded not guilty to murdering their son Finley on Christmas Day, 2020.

They also deny cruelty to a person under 16 and causing or allowing the death of a child.

Jurors heard on Wednesday Finley Boden died just 39 days after being returned to Boden and Marsden from care.

He had endured 57 fractures including breaks to his collar bone, shoulder, shin, thigh bones, pelvis and ribs in the days leading to his death, a court had heard.

The baby also suffered two burns to his hand – one of which may have been caused by a cigarette lighter.

Today Prosecutor Mary Prior KC read out a series of texts and internet searches made on the Boden-Marsden phone to the court – during November and December when the prosecution says tot Finley was seriously hurt.

Multiple texts were sent between drug dealers and the defendants arranging deals.

One of the texts – sent on December 23 – read: “That bud's absolutely banging bro – probs the best in Old Whit.”

Records showed multiple requests for drugs were sent from the Boden-Marsden phone right up to and including Christmas Eve, along with requests to family members of loans of money.

Other texts showing evidence of domestic abuse in the house were sent from the phone, including one which read: "Stephen doesn’t want Finley in the house I ain't doing it anymore.

"I wanted to have a nice, family Christmas but that ain’t gonna happen here.”

On December 14 another text was sent asking a carer for Finley to take care of the toddler “before Friday”.

However this was followed by a further text two days later telling the same person “no-one’s seeing Finley right now”.

Another message was sent from the phone on December 12 asking for help to “get out” “before it kicks off”.

“Exhausted” Finley died after developing a heart infection and sepsis as he was unable to clear mucus as a result of multiple rib fractures.

The court heard on Wednesday that “both defendants not only claimed they did not injure Finley but they were unaware of the extent of his injuries”.

However, today, a number of Google searches made on the Boden/Marsden phone were read out to the court.

They included one made on December 23 for “symptoms of sepsis” on the NHS website.

Various news headlines uncovered in phone searches included “child killer is jailed for 21 years”, “tragic story of Derby mum who killed her baby” and “starved toddler dies from head injury four months after social worker returns her to parents”.