Stepfather jailed for 'bath time' killing

Francies' wife has stood by her husband

The family of a man jailed for three years for killing his three-year-old stepson have said they are considering an appeal.

Kristian Francies, 27, from Splott in Cardiff, killed Cory in a "flash of temper" after feeding him before his evening bath.

Cardiff Crown Court heard that the child was beaten at bath time while his mother was out at work.

This defendant has a deep and very genuine sadness due to the loss of child he regarded as his own

Mr Justice Thomas

Francies vehemently denied the charges claiming his injuries were caused as he tried to save the boy's life as he choked on a chicken bone.

At the end of the trial last month, the jury cleared Francies - who was supported by the child's mother throughout - of murder but found him guilty of manslaughter.

Sentencing Francies on Friday, the judge Mr Justice Thomas told him: "You must have lost your temper and struck the child not intending serious bodily injury. Unfortunately we will never know what brought that about.

"This was a tragic and completely isolated loss of temper with deeply tragic results.

"This defendant has a deep and very genuine sadness due to the loss of child he regarded as his own."

The street where Francies lived with his stepson

He said some of Cory's injuries must have been sustained in attempts to revive him.

During the trial, John Jenkins QC, prosecuting, said Francies had been alone in the house at the time while his 23-year-old wife Emma was at work.

"Something happened to make Francies lose his temper with the child," Mr Jenkins told the court.

"He slapped the child across the face and followed it up with a number of blows to the head and face, causing the child to become unconscious.

It has been difficult for the family to come to terms with the conviction. They believed him to be a kind, caring and considerate husband and father

Defence barrister Neil Bidder

"Francies then appreciated the enormity of what he had done and tried unsuccessfully to revive Cory."

The court heard that Francies had desperately dialled 999 - claiming the child was choking on a chicken bone. His wife arrived home from her shift and the court heard Francies grabbed her crying: "Help me".

Francies, a call centre worker, claimed he accidentally injured Cory when he was performing the lifesaving Heimlich Manoeuvre in a bid to clear his throat and inadvertently banged the child's head against the wardrobe.

Neil Bedder QC, defending, said the picture of a man who lashed out at his stepson was at complete odds with the reality of a doting parent who treated Cory as his own.

The jury cleared Francies of murder

Francies and his wife - who is expecting his child - had been married four months and living together for 18 months when Cory died.

Mr Bidder told the court that this was a "tragic and exceptional case".

"It has been difficult for the family to come to terms with the conviction," he said.

"They believed him to be a kind, caring and considerate husband and father. Emma is pregnant and wants her husband back as soon as soon as she can."

Mr Justice Thomas said: "You must have lost your temper and struck the child not intending to do him serious injury.

"You were immediately remorseful."