Two parents have appeared in court charged with murdering their 10-month old son on Christmas Day last year.
Shannon Marsden, 21, and her partner Stephen Boden, 29, appeared at Derby Crown Court via video link where they are jointly accused of the murder of their son Finley on December 25, 2020 at an address in Old Whittington, Chesterfield.
Derbyshire Police last week stated that paramedics responded to calls from a home in distress after a 10-month-old boy became unresponsive.
Finley Boden, a female pilot from the Force was taken to the hospital and was declared dead.
Marsden, who is at HMP Foston Hall, and Boden, at HMP Nottingham, spoke only to confirm their names and no details of the alleged killing were revealed to the court.
Shannon Marsden, 21 and Stephen Boden, 29 appeared in Derby Crown Court via videolink. The pair are accused together of murdering their son Finley at Old Whittington Chesterfield.
Both Boden of Barrow Hill and Chesterfield and Marsden of no fixed address were also charged last November with neglecting or assaulting their son.
The couple were also charged together with possessing cannabis with the intent to sell and with supplying cannabis during October 16, 2020, February 13, 2019.
The defendants weren’t asked to plead guilty and Judge Nirmal Shant (QC), Honorary Recorder for Derby, took them into custody.
Next appearance of the pair at Derby Crown Court will be February 4, 2022. Judge Shant said that this might take place over a link and not in person.
Mary Prior QC had appeared for the prosecution, while Emma Coverly represented Marsden, and Jessica Strange represented Boden.
The hearing heard that neither the defence nor the client’s lawyers applied for bail, although the judge indicated this may occur at the next court appearance.
Marsden was wearing a grey tracksuit and held her knees near her chest to hear the brief hearing. Boden was also wearing a grey sweatshirt during his court appearance.